Minnesota's Greenwood Fire 'Like a Freight Train,' Officials Say

U.S.|A wildfire successful Minnesota is behaving similar a ‘freight train,’ a occurrence authoritative said.

• Aug. 24, 2021, 10:28 a.m. ET

A fast-moving wildfire successful northeastern Minnesota has drawn hundreds firefighters and prompted a question of evacuations since it started 9 days ago.

The Greenwood fire, successful the Superior National Forest not acold from the Canadian border, has burned astatine slightest 19,000 acres and is zero percent contained, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The occurrence was started by lightening, the authorities said.

In a quality league connected Monday night, Brian Pisarek, an incidental commander, compared the to a “freight train.”

“Once it starts rolling,” helium said, “it starts to physique up steam and provender disconnected itself.”

More than 400 firefighters were assigned to the Greenwood fire, 1 of 2 ample blazes successful the state. About 300 homes person been evacuated, a occurrence authoritative said. Residents successful immoderate areas were advised to hole to evacuate.