The U.S. Forest Service has announced the closure of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) due to rapidly spreading wildfires fueled by extreme heat and dry conditions. The fire has expanded to 6,500 acres, leading to mandatory evacuations in areas such as Lake County. Governor Tim Walz has declared a peacetime emergency and mobilized the National Guard to assist firefighting efforts throughout northern Minnesota. A Red Flag Warning is in effect for 13 northern counties, exacerbating fire risks as numerous wildfires, including 20 active blazes in the Superior National Forest and BWCAW, continue to burn. The Forest Service is advising all visitors to stay away as suppression efforts intensify, alongside warnings of possible lightning and additional fire flare-ups.