Lake County expands evacuation zones as Camp, Birch Island fires grow

Lake County Emergency Management widened evacuation zones for the Camp and Birch Island fires by 12:30 p.m., pushing GO notices deeper into the area between Fall Lake and Cedar Lake and forcing residents to prepare for faster departures. The change came as fire managers tracked a rapidly shifting situation in the backcountry and nearby communities.

Lake County’s July 14 update, issued by Emergency Manager Warren LaPlante, said the temporary evacuation point at the Babbitt Municipal Center would stay open until 9 p.m. that day and reopen Wednesday, July 15, at 8 a.m. The county also said there were no public shelters available, leaving residents with fewer options if they needed to leave quickly.

The expanded evacuation footprint added urgency in a region where access is already limited. Lake County had issued a GO evacuation order on Tuesday morning as a precaution because there is only one road in and out of the Boundary Waters area. Later, county officials said additional GO evacuation notifications would be displayed across the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Cook, Lake and St. Louis counties to match a July 13 closure update for the wilderness area.

The county’s wildfire mapping was also tied to last year’s Camphouse Fire, underscoring that the evacuation zones were part of a broader preparedness push, not just a one-day reaction. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lake County Office of Emergency Services and other public safety partners have been promoting a Know Your Zone campaign so residents can identify their evacuation area before they need to move.

For families, cabin owners, outfitters and travelers near the Camp fire area and Birch Island fire area, the practical effect was immediate. People in the widened zone needed to keep medications, documents, pets and essential supplies ready, because the line between warning and removal can change quickly when wind, smoke or fire behavior shifts. The same wildfire period also brought hazardous air quality across much of Minnesota and Wisconsin, adding another layer of disruption for northern Minnesota communities already watching the fire perimeter.