ELY, Minnesota – State and federal officials reported on Monday, July 20, 2026, that nearly 25 active wildfires are burning across Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota, scorching approximately 63,000 acres in the state and an additional 8,400 acres in neighboring Ontario, Canada. The fires, which surged over the weekend with three new starts on Sunday, are believed to be primarily caused by lightning strikes from recent summer storms igniting dry forest fuels. More than 780 firefighters, pilots, and support staff from across the United States and Canada are now deployed, supported by water-scooping aircraft and helicopters conducting continuous aerial suppression operations.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.