05/21/2026
Despite the circumstances and the negative impacts that this fire had on the community, the professionalism displayed through teamwork and preparedness is amazing and invaluable. Solway Fire Department was honored to play a small role in this response, working alongside these dedicated individuals for the sake of our friends and neighbors! Thank you to all departments and firefighters as well as their families and the countless other businesses and individuals who made it possible!
I just want to take a moment to offer a humble and heartfelt thank you to everyone involved in the response to the Flanders Lake Fire. 100% Containment! (Lengthy, and I hope I included everyone).
While this was not “Crosslake’s fire,” it was truly a TEAM fire and that’s exactly what we’ve witnessed since Mission Fire was first dispatched and on scene. The whole response was a TEAM effort.
From the local fire departments, emergency personnel, and officials who immediately responded and took positions, called in more supplies and strategically placed equipment, to the Minnesota DNR launching an aggressive aerial attack with their brave and skilled pilots, to MNICS Type 3 Incident Management Team B arriving from across the state, this response has been nothing short of remarkable.
The Sheriff, as well as the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office mobilized personnel, Crow Wing County officials doing the same, Lakes Area Heroes showed up with food and water for responders instantly, and the Red Cross was in Crosslake within hours of the initial call to assist displaced residents and support operations.
I also want to recognize the countless businesses, organizations, and individuals from across the Brainerd Lakes Area who stepped up to donate food, water, supplies, prayers, and other resources. The generosity shown by this community has been overwhelming and serves as a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished when people come together to support one another during difficult times.
This fire has demonstrated the very best of emergency response, interagency cooperation, and community support. To every firefighter, law enforcement officer, dispatcher, pilot, public official, volunteer, public works employee, emergency manager, business owner, donor, and support staff member who played a role, thank you. We all know this fire could have been 10X worse.
Seeing the Crosslake Fire Hall transformed into the Emergency Operations Center was remarkable. It looked almost exactly like the training exercise we participated in just two months ago. The room was organized with each key function in place: Incident Command, Public Information, Operations, Planning, Logistics, Finance, and Safety, all working together toward a common goal.
What impressed me most was watching leaders from across Minnesota come together and operate so seamlessly as one team. Their professionalism, experience, and ability to collaborate under pressure was truly something to witness.
I have to admit, it’s sad to see many of these individuals head back home. I’ve had the privilege of getting to know them over the last several days, and the relationships built, lessons learned, and experiences shared will stay with me long after this incident is over.
A special thank you to Chief Lohmiller and everyone who spent the last three years developing the Community Wildfire Protection Plan, as well as Crow Wing County for implementing it.
The value of that work was clearly on display during this incident. The preparation, training, and knowledge gained through that process helped position our community and responders for success when it mattered most.
We are incredibly fortunate to have such dedicated professionals, volunteers, and community members who stand ready to serve when our communities need them most.
We can never thank all those involved enough. TEAM work, indeed made the dream work!
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Departments assisted in the response: Backus, Bemidji, Brainerd, Cloquet, Crosslake, Crosby, Cuyuna, Deerwood, Dent, Frazee, Garrison, Gonvick, Grand Rapids, Ideal Township, Ironton, Lake Park, Little Falls, Menahga, Mission Township, Motley, Nisswa, Pequot Lakes, Perham, Pillager, Pine River, Solway, and Staples Fire Departments.
Thank you to Sheriff Klang, Crow Wing County, Mission Township, DNR Officials, DNR Forestry Officials, Manitoba Crew, The Red Cross, Rep. Ben Davis, Madam Speaker Demuth, Sen. Keri Heintzeman, DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen, U.S. Congressman Stauber, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and other officials that reached out and took an active roll.
