Winds could complicate northern Minnesota wildfires. Here's what you need to know.

Three wildfires continued to burn and grow across St. Louis County north of Duluth on Wednesday, and at least 140 buildings have been destroyed, authorities said.

Some light rain and storm action Wednesday afternoon might help slow fire spread, "but with all that energy in the atmosphere, that also means we could be ushering in another system of high winds," public information officer Bob Reif said.

He's part of a new team that has taken over management of the Camp House and Jenkins Creek fires, which St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay said Tuesday night showed no signs of slowing.

The changing forecast might bring the help hundreds of firefighters need. The National Weather Service said there is an 80% chance of rain Thursday, which could bring a half-inch to an inch of precipitation.

"Conditions will provide opportunities for resources to build containment lines," according to an update from authorities.

The St. Louis County Rescue Squad confirmed Wednesday that two of three people whose whereabouts were unknown have been found safe. A social media post from the squad said it was also "hot on the trail" of the third person.

The proximity of the Jenkins Creek and Camp House fires has some wondering whether they might merge. Reif said he doesn't expect that to happen, with turbulent lake winds not affecting the Jenkins Creek fire.

Until the rain arrives, here is what you need to know about the northern Minnesota fires:

Camp House fire

The Camp House fire near Brimson was reported Sunday afternoon. Reif said the fire had grown to nearly 15,000 acres, or 23 square miles.

He said lake turbulence from Lake Superior has made for unpredictable firefighting for ground crews.

"It's a bit of a scramble up here," he said, but more resources are pouring in.

The fire continues to grow and expand to the north, east into Lake County and west of Brimson toward the Ault Town Hall, Ramsay said Wednesday, although it's burning through more forested areas. No new evacuation orders have been given. He said winds are expected to shift eastward.

Nearly 150 buildings have been destroyed. County Hwy. 44 is closed between County Road 16 and Two Harbors and Brimson Road.

The Fredenberg Community Center opened as an evacuation center.

More than 200 firefighters were battling the blaze and providing protection for threatened structures.

Twelve tankers plus aircraft, including two Fire Boss single-engine water-scooping planes and two CL-415 super scooper planes along with helicopters, have been dropping water on the fires in an effort to slow the spread, the U.S. Forest Service said.

The fire remained uncontained as of Wednesday morning, officials said.

Jenkins Creek fire

The Jenkins Creek fire was detected Monday and grew to about 20,600 acres overnight, or 32 square miles, in a remote area of the Superior National Forest southeast of Hoyt Lakes, according Reif. The fire remains uncontained.

Buildings have been destroyed, Ramsay said in a social media post at noon Wednesday, but it's unclear how many because of fire conditions.

The fire continues to grow to the north and west along County Road 16, where it is most active, Ramsay said, and so far it is staying clear of Hoyt Lakes, where about 2,000 people live. The road is closed from Townline Road in Lake County to Camp 26 Road on the west end.

The pre-evacuation warnings are in effect along County Road 11.

More than 20 crew members were using one fire engine, bulldozers and air support to fight the blaze. The fire growth has been to the north-northeast in an area north of County Road 16, east of County Road 110 and west of Cadotte Lake, the Forest Service said.

The town of Skibo is of concern as flames have reached part of Forest Road 120 west of Stone Lake, according to an update from the command center.

Ramsay said if the Jenkins Creek fire continues to head north, it is in danger of encroaching on more populous areas. The area around the Camp House fire "has been devastated," he said. "Lots of property loss."

Munger Shaw fire

A third fire near Cotton called the Munger Shaw fire was also reported Monday. The fire was south of Three Lakes Road. As of Wednesday, it had burned 1,700 acres.

Some evacuations took place Tuesday along Munger Shaw Road and in the areas near Pioneer and Long lakes. The Cotton Community Center has been established as an evacuation center. Ramsay said Wednesday the fire "died down a fair amount overnight," but winds are expected to pick up this afternoon.

The fire has destroyed properties, he said, but it is unclear how many.

Officials order evacuations

St. Louis County is evacuating residents near the Camp House fire.

Anybody in an area between Indian Lake to Breda Lake should evacuate to the south for their safety, the Sheriff's Office said. Evacuees can go to the Fredenberg Township Community Center at 5104 Fish Lake Road as a temporary evacuation gathering point.

"Our hearts are with people who've lost homes or cabins," the Sheriff's Office said. "Our thanks to the many, many firefighters and responders who continue to work."

Evacuations have begun in the areas of Pioneer Lake and Morley Beach Road near the Munger Shaw fire.

The Forest Service said the Cadotte Lake Campground was also evacuated because of its proximity to the Camp House and Jenkins Creek fires.

More evacuation orders will likely be added to the Jenkins Creek fire area.

In neighboring Lake County, residents and property owners west of Hwy. 2 between the Greenwood Lake boat access on Hwy. 2 and Langley River Road are under an evacuation order.

The Forest Service has closed a portion of the Laurentian Ranger District. The closure bans visitor entry at campsites, recreation sites, trails, roads and lakes.

Walz: Heed burning restrictions

Gov. Tim Walz on Monday activated the National Guard to provide emergency assistance as crews fight the three fires. On Tuesday, Walz and state leaders held a news conference in St. Paul to discuss the wildfire response.

Walz said firefighters are working around the clock in dangerous conditions to keep the flames at bay. He urged Minnesotans to listen to weather advisories and burn restrictions during this period of high temperatures and low humidity.

"Just don't burn," Walz said. "It is just too hot, too dry, too dangerous, and our resources will get spread too thin."

How did the fires start?

The cause of the three fires have not been determined, according to Inciweb.

What happens now?

Fire-suppression efforts continued Wednesday as the weather remained hot and dry, meaning "critical fire danger" remained in place. A chance of storms on Thursday could bring some relief, the Weather Service said.

Officials reminded everybody to follow the state Department of Natural Resources' burning restrictions.

Patty Thielen, director of the DNR's forestry division, said during the news conference Tuesday that Minnesota has had more than 37,000 acres of fires this year.

"In an average year, we have about 12,000 acres," Thielen said. "We've already had over three times as many fire acres as in a normal full year, and it's only the middle of May."

DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen added that Minnesota is experiencing the effects of climate change.

"It is hard to compare what has been historically the normal fire season pattern in the state of Minnesota and what we are seeing now and going forward," Strommen said. "We are trending towards hotter, drier weather and that is going to change the fire situation."