Crosby Fire reaches 260 acres in George H. Crosby Manitou State Park; containment rises to 45%
Oct 11, 2025 12:49PM ● By Content Editor
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - October 11, 2025
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Fire crews are continuing suppression efforts on the Crosby Fire, a wildfire burning within the George H. Crosby Manitou State Park on the north shore of Minnesota. As of an October 11, 2025, update from the Minnesota Incident Command Center (MNICC), the fire is approximately 260 acres in size and is 45% contained.
The fire, which began on October 8, 2025, is now confirmed to have been caused by a lightning strike, the MNICC stated. Since it was first discovered, the wildfire has been burning primarily in mixed maple hardwoods and fall leaf litter within a remote ridge area of the park, approximately ten miles southwest of Tofte.
According to the MNICC, the fire showed moderate activity on Friday, contributing to an additional 50 acres of growth, due to northwest winds on October 10.
Firefighters made operational progress over the last 24 hours by establishing a handline (a control line dug or scraped to mineral soil) along the fire’s west and east perimeters. Crews leveraged existing natural features in the rugged terrain to tie in these control lines. Water-scooping aircraft and a helicopter continued to support firefighters on the ground by dropping water to cool and slow the active flames.
Crews plan to increase water access to an area where the heat remains high. "Firefighters plan to establish a hose lay on the east side of the fire where downed stumps and logs are smoldering and holding heat," the MNICC said. This action is designed to "improve firefighters' access to water, which helps cool down lingering hot spots."
Handline construction is scheduled to continue on the remaining uncontained sections of the fire’s perimeter to work toward full containment.
A partial closure of the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) remains in effect due to the fire. The trail is closed between the Caribou Falls State Wayside Rest along Minnesota State Highway 61 and the Lake County Road 7 (Cramer Road) access points. The George H. Crosby Manitou State Park itself remains open.
The MNICC continued to remind the public against flying drones near the fire. "Firefighting aircraft remain available to the Crosby fire and will be used as necessary. If drones are detected, all use of firefighting aircraft will stop."
The weather forecast for Saturday calls for sunny conditions with highs in the upper 50s. The wind is expected to be light, with an east wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
