Amid continuing progress to combat and contain wildfires near Ely, Gov. Tim Walz (D) came to town on Monday to get a first-hand look at the efforts and meet with area officials.
Walz also strongly hinted that a special legislative session would be called to address potential economic relief for entities that have been harmed by fires that have consumed roughly 70,000 acres, resulted in evacuations of homes and businesses and brought as many as 1,000 firefighters and associated personnel to the region.
During a briefing at the Ely airport and flanked by state and federal officials as well as Mayor Heidi Omerza and State Rep. Roger Skraba (R), Walz touted progress including a report that the fires, which started three weeks ago, are now 53 percent contained.
“We’re in a better spot but we’re not done with this yet,” said Walz. “When we first opened up the emergency operations center three weeks ago we were a little more pessimistic. But we got some good weather breaks and have some incredible folks up here who have made this happen.”
Portions of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness have been reopened to day use, and more could open soon, with an announcement likely later this week, according to Walz.
Late Sunday, many of the evacuation zones, including along the Fernberg Road corridor, were downgraded from “Go” to “Set,” allowing home and business owners to return to their properties.
Walz thanked those who have cooperated with evacuation orders, saying “I can’t imagine how difficult that is. This is your property. This is your life and you’re being asked to leave it behind.”
Two of Walz’s commissioners, Sarah Strommen of the Department of Natural Resources and Bob Jacobson of the Department of Public Safety, also attended the briefing and the governor hailed the collaborative and cooperative efforts involving local, state and federal agencies.
“We don’t need to reinvent the wheel on this but it does take collaboration,” said Walz.
The BWCAW was closed two weeks ago and Ely’s tourism economic has taken a devastating hit, with the cancellation of trips as well as events such as last weekend’s Blueberry/Art Festival.
Both Skraba and State Sen. Grant Hauschild (D) were present Friday for a roundtable discussion on the economic impacts, and Ely leaders are pointing out that the community remains open for business - and that there remain opportunities for recreation and attractions in and around the area.
Yet many Ely area businesses have been hurt severely this month, and talk is building of a special legislative session that would focus on relief.
Skraba addressed that possibility Monday.
“We look forward to working with the governor,” said Skraba. “We will work out an economic development package. We just have to figure out how, where and how much.”
But Skraba also pressed for further openings and to allow businesses to welcome visitors not only to Ely, but to the BWCAW as well.
“The sooner we open it up the less we have to worry about (financial relief),” said Skraba.
Walz said he was looking forward “to a broader decision about overnights Thursday.”
“We are open for business and we can stay out of the way (of firefighters),” said Walz. “There are folks who are up here who make a big chunk of money during the summer months.”
Walz said a special session would likely be called around Aug. 12, and he called the fire relief package an “apolitical” issue and said he intends to keep other items out of a special session.
“I will just say from my perspective it should focus on the fire and recovery in northern Minnesota and that’s it,” said Walz. “It keeps us focused on what needs to be done.”
