Near Two Harbors, 34 structures burned and Highway 61 closed; in Crow Wing County, a 1,200-acre fire sparked evacuations

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Evacuation orders remained in place Sunday in parts of Crow Wing County as crews continued to battle a wildfire that erupted Saturday.

The Flanders Fire started early Saturday afternoon amid dry, windy conditions near County Road 11 southeast of Crosslake — and has grown to close to 1,200 acres. Authorities said the fire remains zero percent contained as of Sunday.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Authorities closed County Road 11 between Crosslake and State Highway 6. The Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office said Saturday that crews were working to evacuate areas east of East Horseshoe Lake Road and south of County Road 11. 

The Crosslake Community Center was opened as a shelter for evacuees on Saturday night, offering food and a place to stay overnight.

, the sheriff’s office said fire crews and law enforcement personnel would continue to monitor the wildfire through the night.

Crosslake Mayor Jackson Purfeerst said he learned the fire was zero percent contained at a Sunday morning briefing.

"No major structure damage, no fatalities or any incidences like that,” he said. “A few, maybe, garden sheds here and there, but nothing significant, which is great."

Purfeerst said about 100 firefighters are on the ground battling the blaze. He said there's some concern about the wind changing direction. 

County Road 11 remains closed, and authorities asked people to stay out of the area. 

Crews also continued working Sunday to contain a second large wildfire in northern Minnesota — the 

. Authorities said that fire burned more than 30 buildings.

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Kirsti Marohn

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The Flanders Fire started early Saturday afternoon amid dry, windy conditions near County Road 11 southeast of Crosslake and has grown to close to 1,200 acres. 

Smoke billows from a wildfire along a highway

Courtesy of Doug and Mandy Mitchell

A team works on laptops while a map of a wildfire is shown on a mounted TV.

Crews continue battling Flanders Fire in Crow Wing County; evacuation orders remain in place

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