Flanders Fire Update
Sunday, May 17, 2026 at 10:30 a.m.
MNICS Team B, Incident Commander Jeb Backe
Fire Information Line: 218-225-1711 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Email: 2026.flanders@firenet.gov
Online: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mnmns-flanders-fire
Flanders Fire Quick Facts
Size: 1,200 acres Origin: 10 miles east of Breezy Point, Minnesota along Highway 6 County: Crow Wing
Start Date: May 16, 2026 Cause: Under Investigation Containment: 0% Total Personnel: 100
Key Messages: A MNICS Type 3 Incident Management Team took over management of this fire at 6 a.m. today. A type 3 team brings additional support and field personnel when a fire has grown larger in size and people than the local area can manage. Evacuations remain in effect while this wildfire is still an active and evolving incident.
Operation Update: Yesterday, numerous firefighting aircraft were used for water and fire-retardant drops to slow the fire spread and reduce the intensity of the fire on the edges and near private property. Local Fire Departments deployed engines and crews for structure protection, and the Minnesota Fire Marshall’s Office and Fire Chief’s Association activated mutual aid agreements to bring in additional fire departments from several locations around the state to assist. Wildfire crews staged engines and equipment and later in the evening when safe to do so engaged in containment line construction on both the north and south sides of the fire. Five bulldozers and numerous tracked vehicles with water tanks made progress on containment line construction moving from west to east from the eastern side of Flanders Lake to the Pine River. A night shift of fire crews worked overnight to continue structure protection and build and improve the containment lines.
Overnight, firefighters were able to get a better assessment of the fire size, and based on heat signature returns, the estimated size is 1,200 acres.
Planned Activity: Crews will assess, hold, and improve the dozer containment lines on both the north and south sides of the fire that were built yesterday. Crews will start working along these lines to “mop up”, which means to seek out and extinguish areas of flame and pockets of heat that are located near the fire lines to prevent the fire from crossing the lines. Aircraft water and fire-retardant drops help slow the fire movement and reduce the intensity however fire crews on the ground need to follow up to secure the fire edge and work on containment. Several Fire Departments will continue to provide structure protection throughout the fire area.
Aircraft are available to assist with water and fire-retardant drops. A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) has been established over the fire area. The TFR restricts aircraft from entering a designated area around the fire to ensure safety during firefighting operations. Do not fly unauthorized drones near the Flanders Fire. Remember – If you fly, we can’t!
Closures: Due to impacts from the fire and the safety of firefighting crews, County Road 11 remains closed from County Road 3 in Cross Lake east to State Highway 6 in conjunction with the Evacuation Area. The public is asked to stay out of the closure area for both their and firefighter safety.
Evacuations: Crow Wing County has implemented the Ready, Set, Go notification plan. Current evacuation information can be referenced on the Crow Wing County website at: https://www.crowwing.gov/1814/Wildfire-Update
Burning Restrictions: For current restrictions: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/firerating_restrictions.html
Weather: Today, temperatures will be cooler with a high of around 60 degrees. The minimum humidity will be around 50 percent. Winds will be from the east today from 9-14 mph, with gusts up to 26 mph.