Crews battling wildfire along Minnesota’s North Shore

Crews are working on the ground and from the air to try to contain a wildfire burning in the highlands along Minnesota’s North Shore.

The Minnesota Interagency Fire Center said the Crosby Fire was detected Wednesday near the Caribou River, on a remote ridge in George H. Crosby Manitou State Park.

That’s a couple miles inland from State Highway 61 and the Lake Superior shore, and it’s about 10 miles southwest of Tofte.

Authorities estimated the fire at 50 acres in size as of Thursday morning and said it was burning in “mixed maple hardwoods and fall leaf litter.” The fire was zero percent contained.

“Access into that area is somewhat challenging just because of the steep terrain, so firefighters mostly will be working with the hand tools today,” Leanne Langeberg, a spokesperson with the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center, told MPR News on Thursday. “There may be use of helicopters, and if airplanes that can provide water drops will be valuable, they will bring those in.”

Multiple aircraft made water drops on the fire on Wednesday.

The remote location of the fire means it’s not threatening any homes or park structures.

The state park and the Superior Hiking Trail remain open, though visitors may notice smoke in the area. Authorities asked people to not fly drones in the area because they interfere with firefighting aircraft.