Lake County sets recovery event for Stewart Trail Fire property owners

Lake County put the next recovery decisions in one place Thursday night at Sonju Arena in Two Harbors, where property owners affected by the Stewart Trail Fire could get help with debris cleanup, insurance paperwork, permits and rebuilding questions. The county opened the event to anyone whose property was damaged, including homes, other structures, septic systems and trees, reflecting how fire recovery on the North Shore reaches far beyond house repairs.

County staff from Public Health, Planning and Environmental Services, the Recorder’s Office, the Auditor’s Office, the Veterans Service Office and Emergency Management were scheduled to be there to answer the kinds of questions that can stall recovery for weeks. The county also brought in the Minnesota DNR Forestry and Restoration team, Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Head of the Lakes United Way, the American Red Cross, the Two Harbors Food Shelf and Justice North, giving residents a single stop for environmental, financial, housing and legal concerns.

The fire began Friday, May 15, about 3 miles north of Two Harbors near Lake County Highway 3 and U.S. Highway 61. It was first estimated at 100 acres and 0% contained before growing to roughly 355 to 356 acres. By Monday, May 19, officials reported it was 100% contained. Damage assessments confirmed 34 structures destroyed, including 8 primary structures and 26 outbuildings.

Lake County said on May 18 that the fire’s cause was a power line. Even after containment, officials warned that burned, unstable trees and remaining hotspots continued to pose safety risks, and motorists were told to use caution as Highway 61 reopened. County officials also allowed escorted access for property owners in the evacuation area between the Stewart River and the Silver Creek Tunnel before lifting evacuation orders, a sign that the county was trying to move residents from evacuation into documented recovery without letting safety slip.

Lake County paired the outreach effort with a donation system for fire victims. The county said it was working with Head of the Lakes United Way to receive and distribute financial contributions, with United Way serving as fiscal agent and charging no administrative fee. Donors were asked to give before June 30 so the money could go to fire victims; after that date, contributions would be directed to other Lake County community programs. Food donations were being routed to the Two Harbors Food Shelf, and county officials said no specific need for donated clothing or household goods had yet been identified.

Gov. Tim Walz also visited Two Harbors to survey the damage and meet with first responders, local officials and residents, underscoring how quickly the Stewart Trail Fire became a major countywide recovery issue.