Minnesota Wildfires: Gov. Walz Activates National Guard, Declares Peacetime Emergency

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Sunday declared a peacetime emergency and activated the National Guard as multiple wildfires threatened residents and property in central and northern parts of the state.

Firefighters are working to contain the blazes, which stretch across hundreds of acres. Authorities believe one fire began as a grass fire potentially sparked by a fallen power line before spreading rapidly amid low humidity and high winds.

Mandatory evacuations have been initiated in some counties, and the entire state remains on high alert for fire danger. Gov. Walz said he called in the National Guard to assist, with the peacetime emergency declaration aimed at fully mobilizing resources.

Authorities warned that current weather conditions could fuel rapid fire growth in the coming days.