Senator Keri Heintzeman

05/25/2026

On Memorial Day, we remember the men and women who gave everything for our country. Their sacrifice made it possible for us to live in freedom, raise our families, and voice our beliefs. God Bless the heroes we’ve lost, God Bless their families, and God Bless this great country we call home.

05/21/2026

In case you missed it, a quick update into the investigation of the Flanders Fire:

The Crow Wing County Sheriff says the investigation into the Flanders Fire is moving ahead as the county board voted to extend an emergency declaration.

05/21/2026

Thank you to everybody who worked so hard to contain the Flanders Fire!

Good morning! Management of the Flanders Fire has transitioned from MNICS Team B to the local Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry Area office today, Thursday, May 21th.

On behalf of MNICS Team B, thank you to the Crosslake Fire Department for hosting the team's Incident Command Post and thank you to the Mission Township Fire Department for actively engaging on the fire every-single-day with dedicated crews. We greatly appreciate it! Also thank you to Mission Township, Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office, Crow Wing County Emergency Management, MN DNR Division of Forestry, and the City of Crosslake for their support and hard work on this incident. Numerous other fire departments and agencies also provided support and hard work on this incident.

THANK YOU to the community within and around Mission Township and the City of Crosslake for accommodating all the cooperating resources, local fire departments, wildland firefighter crews, heavy equipment operators, aircraft, local, county, state, and federal resources who arrived to suppress the Flanders Fire.
We appreciate all of you!

05/21/2026

🔥Flanders Fire 9:00pm update: 1,712 acres and 100% containment.🔥
This will be the last update unless fire activity changes.

For future public information inquiries please contact the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center at [email protected]

🔥Expect the Flanders Fire to Produce Interior Smoke and Heat for Several Weeks🔥

It is not unusual for the interior of the fire to continue to smoke and hot spots to persist. We expect that the Flanders Fire will continue to smoke for the next several weeks. Fire weakened and charred trees are unpredictable in their weakened state and can fall unexpectantly, making prolonged firefighting far inside the fire area dangerous for firefighters. Trees falling on firefighters is one of the most hazardous parts of wildland firefighting. Crews will continue to monitor, mop up, and patrol the containment lines to ensure that no new hazards appear that could compromise the safety of life and property.

If you live near or are visiting the recently burned area of the Flanders Fire, refrain from entering fire affected areas and watch out for overhead hazards from falling limbs and trees. On the ground, burnt out stump holes can lead to trips or falls and can hold hot ash and coals for a long time which could cause burns.

Feel free to report any new smoke or hot spots outside of the main fire containment lines, but please refrain from reporting smoke or hot spots located farther interior of the fire. It is just not safe to send firefighters far interior in large fire areas. Help keep our firefighters and yourself safe. Thank you!

05/20/2026

05/19/2026

This morning, I attended a briefing on the Flanders Fire near Crosslake. Fire officials shared that acreage estimates may continue to fluctuate as evaluations are ongoing. While the fire is currently reported at 60% contained, crews remain actively engaged in eliminating hot spots to prevent the fire from regaining energy and reigniting.

Thankfully, there have been no fatalities and no primary structural damage reported.

Please continue to stay clear of the area, give the incredible firefighters and emergency personnel the space they need to do their jobs safely, and follow all posted traffic signs and road guidance. Reducing your speed where indicated helps protect the men and women working tirelessly on the scene.

Here is the latest information courtesy of MNICS:

Evacuations: With significant progress made on the fire, all the evacuation orders and notices will be lifted at 12 noon today, and residents are welcome to return to their homes and properties. Current evacuation information can be referenced on the Crow Wing County website.

Key Messages: Very good progress continues to be made on the fire due to the hard work of firefighters. County Road 11 has been reopened, but the public is being asked to please keep avoiding the area unless you have a need to pass through. If it is necessary to enter the area, slow down and be extra mindful while driving, as there are still firefighters in the area doing work. We are also asking that all media who want to visit the fire check-in at Incident Command at the Crosslake Fire Department or by calling the info line so we can es**rt you, for both your safety and firefighter safety.

Operation Update: Excellent progress was made by firefighting crews yesterday, and the fire is now at 60% containment. Crews continue to establish control lines with tracked vehicles and mop up hot spots. The Sheriff’s drone team was also able to launch several drones to better map the fire and help detect hot spots from the air. Crews also continued their assessment and mitigation of hazard trees with dozers and chainsaws.

Planned Activity: Crews will continue mop-up work, improving containment lines, and continue their assessments of hazard trees in the area. With containment continuing to grow, firefighters and equipment are starting to be demobilized as the Incident Management Team prepares to transfer command of the fire back to local authorities.

Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR): A TFR has been established over the fire area. The TFR restricts aircraft from entering a designated area around the fire to ensure safety during firefighting operations. Do not fly unauthorized drones near the Flanders Fire.

Closures: The road closure from County Road 11 in Crosslake east to State Highway 6 has been reopened for public use. Reminder that the fire is still actively being worked on by fire crews, and to prioritize their and firefighter safety to try to avoid spending time in the area, or if passing through, be mindful of firefighting crews in the area.

Burning Restrictions: For current restrictions, visit the MNDNR Wildfire page.

Weather: Today, temperatures will be cooler with a high of around 50 degrees, with the possibility of frost tomorrow. The minimum humidity will be around 55 percent. Yesterday, the area received 0.3 inches of rain

05/18/2026

GUN RIGHTS: PROTECTED! Thank you to everyone who worked so hard to defeat the anti-gun legislation Democrats proposed!

✅SINE DIE.

The 2025-2026 legislative biennium is over. Dozens of gun control bills introduced.

Zero passed.

That doesn't happen by accident.

That happens because:

Over the past two years, you, our members and supporters, sent hundreds of thousands of emails to your legislators. You made tens of thousands of phone calls.

You showed up to hearings. You testified. You wrote letters to the editor. You talked to your neighbors. You
did not let up.

And House and Senate Republicans held the line. Every single time.

Speaker Lisa Demuth in particular deserves enormous credit — when the pressure from Governor Walz and the gun control lobby was at its absolute peak, she did not cave.

Not on the omnibus bill. Not on the magazine ban.
Not on the semi-auto ban. Not on red flag expansion.

Not on a single one of the dozens of anti-gun bills they tried to push through.

Thank you. Every one of you. This was your win.

But take the win for a moment, because we don't have long.

The 2026 elections are right around the corner.

The same legislators who just spent two years trying to ban your rifles, your magazines, and your ability to carry are running for reelection. The Governor's mansion is on the ballot. The Minnesota House and Senate are on the ballot.

Starting now, our focus turns to one thing: making sure Minnesota has a pro-Second Amendment majority in the House, the Senate, and the Governor's mansion when the 2027 session gavels in.

We held the line for two years. Now we go on offense.

JOIN: https://gunowners.mn/join
DEFEND: https://gunowners.mn/monthly
DONATE: https://gunowners.mn/donate

05/17/2026

Wanted to share some important resources for the Flanders Fire.

The most important thing: if you are in or near the fire area, please take evacuation orders and instructions from local public safety officials seriously.

Thank you so much to every single person working this fire, from the firefighters, local departments, law enforcement, emergency managers, and everyone in between. These are long, exhausting, difficult days, and we are grateful for what you do. Please stay safe.

By now you have certainly heard about the Flanders Fire burning near Breezy Point, Crosslake, and Mission Township in Crow Wing County. It has rapidly grown in size, and this morning Gov. Walz activated the National Guard to assist with wildfire efforts.

05/16/2026