Local Officials Provide Update On 1,200+ Acre Flanders Fire In Crosslake Area
UPDATE: 12:30 PM May 18, 2026:
In an update from 11 am on Monday morning, officials say the fire area is now at 1,666 acres and is 20% contained. While evacuation areas are still in effect, there are plans to open County Road 11 through the fire area. You can read the latest on these updates here.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: 11:00 AM May 17, 2026:
Less than 24 hours after the Flanders Fire started in Mission Township near Crosslake and Breezy Point in the Brainerd Lakes Area, we are getting an assessment of how big it grew, how much damage was done, and what's next.
Crosslake Mayor Jackson Purfeerst toured some of the fire-ravaged area with the Crow Wing County Sheriff on Sunday morning, providing updates on the situation.
Purfeerst explained that at least 1,200 acres have been confirmed burned by the fire, which started in the Flanders Lake area just southeast of the intersection of County Roads 3 and 11 in Mission Township.
The fast-moving fire had grown to over 600 acres in just a couple hours after being reported at around 1 pm on Saturday afternoon. Gusty winds and dry conditions helped the blaze quickly spread, jumping across Highway 11 and even jumping across the Pine River at the eastern edges of the blaze on Saturday.
Here's a map showing the approximate area of the fire.
As of Sunday morning, the Flanders Fire remains 0% contained, but crews have been working since the fire was first reported to protect structures, evacuate people and their animals, and set the stage for containment efforts.
Purfeerst reports that thankfully no primary structures have been lost. While some primary structures sustained minor damage like siding melting or being hit by fire retardants from aerial attacks of the fire, primary structure damage has been limited.
As for secondary buildings, there are some sheds or outbuildings that have sustained some fire damage or were burned down, but no homes have been lost or significantly damaged as of Sunday morning.
The evacuation footprint remains the same as it was on Saturday night, including the closure of County Road 11 between Highway 6 and County Road 3.
Some families are staying at the Crosslake Community Center or Camp Knutson, taking shelter during the evacuation.
While the fire is 0% contained as of Sunday morning, Purfeerst says "Today is the day to get on top of it" with regards to getting containment on the fire.
He says the team with the Minnesota Incident Command System in concert with the Minnesota DNR and local fire departments will be making efforts through the day to try to gain containment on this expansive fire.
The Mayor shared a video clip highlighting some of what the fire left behind.
Crow Wing County Sheriff Eric Klang said Sunday morning that there are some hotspots of concern and a wind direction shift with the change in weather that are expected. Despite these concerns, Klang says they are hoping to get a "better handle" on the fire today.
Klang says about 30 residents are displaced as of Sunday morning, and they hope to be able to let those people back in as soon as possible.
Cooler temperatures and increasing humidity will be helpful in firefighting efforts today, despite breezy winds shifting out of the east and north through the day. Forecasted rain expected to arrive later in the day on Sunday will also help in providing more favorable conditions in getting the fire contained.
If you are looking to make any donations either to the firefighters or families impacted by the fires, Crow Wing County provided the following links to make donations:
Wildfire donations: Folks wanting to donate to families affected by wildfires can donate to: https://www.bridgesofhopemn.org/donate
Folks wanting to donate to first responders working on the wildfires can donate to: https://www.lakesareaheroes.com/support
The Largest Minnesota Wildfires In Modern History
Gallery Credit: Nick Cooper