It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Landmark Center gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in St Paul, MN is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care comes in to help my”
“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care comes in to help my dad a shower at night. When the guy came out to interview, he was really good and helpful, but it was just hard to find someone to help with dad been a little bit bigger and heavier. They like the person that they had come out a couple of times. The caregiver is good.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Harriet Island Regional Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Meritage or visit Burbank Livingston Griggs Mansion, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in St Paul, MN, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in St Paul, MN understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in St Paul, MN 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
UPDATE (5/1/25): City of Saint Paul, Wild Shift Legislative Ask to Prioritize Xcel Energy Center Renovations in 2025 The City of Saint Paul and Minnesota Wild narrowed the immediate scope of the Xcel Energy Center Arena Complex renovation project to prioritize a $488 million upgrade to the 25-year-old Xcel Energy Center, temporarily putting on hold the Saint Paul RiverCentre and Roy Wilkins Auditorium updates until a future date.The project still includes an entire renovation of Xcel Energy Center, creating a modern, best-in...
The City of Saint Paul and Minnesota Wild narrowed the immediate scope of the Xcel Energy Center Arena Complex renovation project to prioritize a $488 million upgrade to the 25-year-old Xcel Energy Center, temporarily putting on hold the Saint Paul RiverCentre and Roy Wilkins Auditorium updates until a future date.
The project still includes an entire renovation of Xcel Energy Center, creating a modern, best-in-class facility. The state contribution would help expand the Xcel Energy Center’s north wall along 5th Street to improve the northeast entrance security area, increase ADA accessibility, reduce congestion in corridors and update restroom plumbing. City and local partners will provide $200 million; the Minnesota Wild will provide the remaining $238 million, plus any cost overruns for the rest of the renovation. Read the press release...
This is a generational opportunity to go all in on revitalization by transforming Downtown Saint Paul into a more dynamic entertainment district anchored by a renovated Arena Complex—comprised of the Xcel Energy Center arena, Saint Paul RiverCentre, and Roy Wilkins Auditorium.
The proposed renovation project is the cornerstone of a safer, more energized Saint Paul, attracting more visitors, more activity, and more vitality. The project also boosts efforts to grow tourism, support the city’s all-in public safety framework, and bring more residents to live in the downtown core.
A renovated Arena Complex is a catalyst for Saint Paul’s growth, fueling momentum and unlocking new opportunities for entertainment, restaurants, retail, housing, hotels, and more.
The Xcel Energy Center, which opened in 2000, is in its 25th year of its intended 25-year lifespan, and the Saint Paul RiverCentre, which opened in 1998, and 93-year-old Roy Wilkins Auditorium require significant renovations to facilities.
Renovations to the city-owned Arena Complex are estimated to cost $769 million. To bring this vision to reality, the city is asking the state to fund half of the cost, with Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold funding 30%, and the city and local partners providing the remaining funds. Ramsey County continues to explore its partnership investment in the proposed Arena Complex renovation.
The Arena Complex stands as the most prolific driver of economic activity in the Capital City—no single business or entity attracts more people to Downtown Saint Paul. Each year, the Arena Complex serves over 2.1 million visitors and contributes $383 million in spending for the City of Saint Paul.
The Xcel Energy Center was constructed in 2000 at a cost of $173 million, with 30% of funding contributed by public sources and the remaining 70% invested by the Minnesota Wild. It needs critical reinvestment to improve accessibility, enhance visitor and vendor experience, and upgrade infrastructure, technological, space needs.
It is home to the Minnesota Wild and Minnesota Frost professional hockey teams, and the Minnesota Roller Derby league. The Arena Complex also hosts a wide variety of cultural, educational, and athletic events such as the annual weekend-long Hmong New Year celebration, high school graduations, major national and international concert tours and performances, conventions and trade shows, Minnesota State High School League tournaments, and more.
Earlier this month, Minnesota Wild Owner Craig Leipold and Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter jointly appeared before the investment committees in the Minnesota House and Senate seeking state funding to renovate the Xcel Energy Center Arena Complex.
Gutting and refurbishing the 25-year-old arena would cost nearly three-quarters of the total, with Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter saying the facility is at the end of its competitive lifespan. Improvements would include upgraded seating options; security and accessibility enhancements; new HVAC and wiring; and the addition of public-facing restaurants attached to the building’s exterior.
The mayor’s office said it's due for major accessibility, technology and building upgrades in order to sustain the number of events and opportunities choosing St. Paul. They predicted the planned renovations will drive concerts, conventions and sporting events to downtown, boosting annual local spending by $110 million.
The Xcel Energy Center was built in downtown St. Paul in 2000 as a way to draw an NHL expansion team to Minnesota. It worked and opened the door for the Minnesota Wild. But a quarter-century after it opened, St. Paul city leaders and Wild executives say it is time for the city-owned arena and adjoining facilities to get a renovation.
The Wild, St. Paul and Ramsey County will ask the state to cover half the Xcel renovations, with the remaining costs split among themselves, a city spokesperson said. League and local officials have not revealed the dollar figure they’re seeking, but they previously said the project will cost about $300 million.
Xcel Energy Center is also the heartbeat of St. Paul nightlife, so an arena renovation could trigger redevelopment around the arena and revitalize downtown with the possible addition of a hotel, residential areas, retail and restaurants. Bettman weighed in Thursday, making it clear that he thinks the Wild deserve public money because of what they and the arena do for downtown St. Paul, the surrounding community and the state.
In the summer of 1980, the man now known as Pope Leo XIV saw the new movie “The Blues Brothers” with a Lutheran friend at Roseville 4, a now-demolished theater on Larpenteur Avenue.They also ate at the Black Forest Inn in Minneapolis and spent time at Luther Seminary, where friend John Snider lived. The Rev. Snider is now the senior pastor at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in West St. Paul, and during that summer of 1980, he, Bob Prevost, as the pope was then known, and three others served together in a clinical pasto...
In the summer of 1980, the man now known as Pope Leo XIV saw the new movie “The Blues Brothers” with a Lutheran friend at Roseville 4, a now-demolished theater on Larpenteur Avenue.
They also ate at the Black Forest Inn in Minneapolis and spent time at Luther Seminary, where friend John Snider lived. The Rev. Snider is now the senior pastor at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in West St. Paul, and during that summer of 1980, he, Bob Prevost, as the pope was then known, and three others served together in a clinical pastoral education group at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.
“I’d say, ‘Bob, let’s get together,’ but it was kind of bouncing around a bit,” Snider said. “He finally said, ‘If we’re going to be friends, we have to make a commitment.’ It was like, oh, yeah. So we did. We did a lot of things all summer, and I just think of that as one of those characteristics that’s true to him — people count, and he makes a commitment to be there with you.”
Then, as now, many seminary students are required to complete clinical pastoral education at medical centers or hospitals, almost like an internship where they gain skills on “the relational, conversational, emotional side of the job,” Snider said.
The men were in their early 20s; this was before they were ordained by their respective religious bodies: Snider at Luther Seminary in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and Prevost within the Augustinian order of the Roman Catholic Church. While Snider lived at the seminary in St. Paul, Prevost lived on the hospital campus in Minneapolis.
“I’ll tell you the other thing: To have known someone — we were 22 and 23 or maybe 24 — and to see this guy now being under a microscope, and lots of people either fawning on him or dogging him for this and that is like, ‘What?!”’ Snider said. “But truthfully, I don’t worry about him. He’s not in it to be pope; he’s in it to serve.”
About a week before the papal conclave was set to begin earlier this month to select a new pope, Snider reached out to his old friend — not knowing he would soon become pope, of course, but wishing him well as a voting member of the College of Cardinals.
“He responded, ‘Love to you and Polly and thanks for your friendship through the years. It’s all in God’s hands. Blessings, Bob,’” Snider said.
Snider is set to retire from St. Stephen’s on Sunday, May 18 — the same day as Leo XIV’s inaugural mass in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican City.
The Roseville 4 theater, which had been on the corner of Larpenteur and Fernwood Street since the 1970s, closed in 2008 and was torn down to make room for a Cub Foods grocery store expansion.
As far as Snider knows, Prevost has not been back to Minnesota since that summer, but Snider visited his friend in Rome in 2010 when the now-pope was serving as the global head of the Order of St. Augustine.
No sitting popes have visited Minnesota; Prevost’s 1980 summer work makes him only the second pope in history known to have visited Minnesota before his papacy. Before becoming Pope Pius XII, then-Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli briefly stopped in St. Paul on a national tour in 1936.
“All my friends are like, ‘So when’s your next trip to Rome?’” Snider said, laughing. “But I’m not sure what a pope’s vacation schedule is like! How many days off do you think the pope gets to request?”
The BriefBRIMSON, Minn. (FOX 9) - Three wildfires continue to burn in northern Minnesota, prompting evacuation orders for people living near the fires.Fire crews are currently fighting three growing wildfires in St. Louis County, north of Duluth. They include:"This is probably going to go down as one of the more historic fires in our lifetime," St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay t...
BRIMSON, Minn. (FOX 9) - Three wildfires continue to burn in northern Minnesota, prompting evacuation orders for people living near the fires.
Fire crews are currently fighting three growing wildfires in St. Louis County, north of Duluth. They include:
"This is probably going to go down as one of the more historic fires in our lifetime," St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay told FOX 9 on Wednesday.
Here's the latest on fire boundaries and evacuation orders in St. Louis County (as of 6:30 a.m. Thursday).
The Brimson Complex fires include the Camp House fire and the Jenkins Creek fire, and have impacted about 35,000 acres as of Wednesday.
Evacuation areas:
The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office has issued evacuation orders for people living near the fires (see map above). You can check the evacuation areas here. Some areas of Lake County have also been impacted. An evacuation map for Lake County is available here.
Click here to find out if your address is in an evacuation zone.
St. Louis County Sheriff Ramsay said one in 10 people do not want to leave their homes when told to evacuate.
There are also closures in the Superior National Forest (see closure information below).
The Camp House fire is north of Brimson and started around 1 p.m. on May 11.
The fire has burned nearly 15,000 acres (14,979 total acres) as of Wednesday morning, according to the National Interagency Fire Center and the Minnesota Incident Command System. The fire is 0% contained.
At least 146 structures have been destroyed in the Camp House fire, the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday.
Authorities estimate firefighting efforts have cost $800,000 so far, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
What caused the fire? :
The sheriff says this fire appears to have started with a camp fire that was left unattended. He adds that the DNR has identified the person who started the fire.
The Jenkins Creek fire is just northwest of the Camp House fire. It started around 11 a.m. on May 12, 15 miles southeast of Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota.
The fire has burned 15,571 acres as of Thursday morning. The fire is 0% contained.
A couple of structures have been damaged or destroyed, but the sheriff said the fire remains too active to check and get further details.
Authorities estimate firefighting efforts have cost $650,000 so far.
What caused the fire?:
According to the sheriff, this fire might have started with a discarded cigarette along Highway 16, as it began near a roadway.
The Munger Shaw fire is smaller and is burning south of the Camp House and Jenkins Creek fires. It started around 2:30 p.m. on May 12 about two miles east of Elora Lake.
The fire has burned about 1,600 acres as of Wednesday morning, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The fire is 0% contained.
Authorities estimate firefighting efforts have cost $950,000 so far.
Evacuation areas:
The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office has issued evacuation orders for people living near the fire (see map above). You can check the evacuation areas here. Click here to find out if your address is in an evacuation zone.
The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office latest evacuation update on Wednesday stated, "Due to fire movement residents south of Comstock Road, west of Upper Bug Lake Road, East of Lily Lake, and North of Wood Tick are to evacuate safely out of the area."
The Cotton Community Center was made available as a temporary evacuation point.
What caused the fire? :
This fire appears to have started with a bail of hay that caught fire and quickly spread, the sheriff said. The homeowner called 911 immediately, but it was already too late when authorities got there.
The U.S. Forest Service on Tuesday said due to the Brimson Complex fires, which include the Camp House and Jenkins Creek fires, the agency has closed a portion of the Laurentian Ranger District, which went into effect at 12:01 p.m. on May 13.
This closure prohibits visitors from entering campsites, recreation sites, trails, roads and lakes. The recreation sites impacted are:
You can find a list of updated closures here.
What you can do:
As of May 13, crews battling the fires were not accepting donations of food and drinks. However, people can donate to the Wildland Fire Federation or the American Red Cross, the Minnesota Incident Command System said.
Severe weather is moving through Minnesota Thursday afternoon.Credit: KARE 11MINNEAPOLIS — Severe weather is moving through Minnesota, where the central part of the state and western Wisconsin are under a tornado watch until 8 p.m.4:05 p.m. A severe thunderstorm warning is issued in Wisconsin for Chippewa and Eau Claire Counties until 4:45 p.m. This storm has reportedly produced 1-inch hail, the largest seen today....
Severe weather is moving through Minnesota Thursday afternoon.
Credit: KARE 11
MINNEAPOLIS — Severe weather is moving through Minnesota, where the central part of the state and western Wisconsin are under a tornado watch until 8 p.m.
4:05 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm warning is issued in Wisconsin for Chippewa and Eau Claire Counties until 4:45 p.m. This storm has reportedly produced 1-inch hail, the largest seen today.
Credit: KARE 11
4 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm warning is issued in Minnesota for Becker and Clay counties until 4:30 p.m.
3:50 p.m.
A tornado warning is issued in Wisconsin for Polk County until 4:15 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm warning is issued in Minnesota for Kanabec and Mille Lacs counties until 4:15 p.m.
Credit: KARE 11
3:38 p.m.
A tornado warning is issued in Wisconsin for Polk and St. Croix counties until 4 p.m.
A tornado warning is issued in Wisconsin for Dunn and Pepin counties until 3:45 p.m.
A tornado warning is issued in Minnesota for Benton and Stearns counties until 4 p.m.
Credit: KARE 11
3:34 p.m.
There is a confirmed tornado on the ground in the New Richmond, Wisconsin area, meteorologist Ben Dery says. Take shelter in the most interior room on the lowest level of the house.
Credit: KARE 11
3:32 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm warning is issued for Aitkin County until 4 p.m. east of Lake Mille Lacs. There is potential for quarter-size hail in this storm system.
3:27 p.m.
A tornado warning has been issued for Polk and St. Croix counties in Wisconsin until 4 p.m.
Credit: KARE 11
3:20 p.m.
A tornado warning has been issued for northern Wadena County until 3:30 p.m.
3:10 p.m.
A tornado warning has been extended in St. Croix County until 3:30 p.m. It is currently over River Falls, moving northeast at 45 mph. If you are in the area of this storm, take shelter in the lowest level of your home in a place without windows.
Another tornado warning has been issued for northern Mille Lacs County until 3:30 p.m. There could be very large hail in this system.
Credit: KARE 11
3:05 p.m.
A storm is moving over I-94 in Stearns County. A tornado watch is active in this area until 3:15, and the storm has had reports of a tornado and a small tornado.
3 p.m.
A tornado warning has been issued for Pierce County, Wisconsin, until 3:15 p.m. A severe thunderstorm warning is issued for St. Croix and Washington counties until 3:15 p.m.
MPS has lifted the groundstop for flights.
Credit: KARE 11
2:55 p.m.
New tornado warnings have been issued in Minnesota. Grant, Otter Trail until 3 p.m.; Wadena county until 3:30 p.m.; Stearns and Todd counties until 3:15 p.m.
2:50 p.m.
The main threat is wind gusts up to 60 mph and hailstones the size of quarters. The tornado warning for Anoka and Hennepin County has expired, a severe thunderstorm warning remains for Anoka and Ramsey counties.
A severe thunderstorm warning is issued for Washington and St. Croix counties until 3:15 p.m.
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Buffalo and Wabasha counties until 3:30 p.m.
Likely by 4 p.m. the storm threat will be over for the Twin Cities metro.
Tornado warnings in the Brainerd and the Fergus Falls areas have expired.
2:40 p.m.
Downtown Minneapolis is in the clear of potential tornadoes as the storm moves north through the metro. A tornado warning remains in effect for Hennepin and Anoka counties.
Credit: KARE 11
2:30 p.m.
The storm is moving north at 50 mph through the Minneapolis area. KARE 11 meteorologist Ben Dery says in a short amount of time a tornado could quickly drop, but there have been no reports.
If you live in the storm area, go into a safe place in your home in the basement or a room with no windows.
The groundstop at MSP goes until 3 p.m. for severe thunderstorms.
Credit: KARE 11
Credit: KARE 11
2:26 p.m.
A tornado warning has been issued for Anoka and Hennepin Counties until 2:45 p.m.
Credit: KARE 11
2:25 p.m.
MSP flights are grounded due to thunderstorms.
Storm spotters around MSP are seeing a rotating wall cloud around MSP.
2:15 p.m.
A tornado warning has been issued for Crow Wing County until 3 p.m. in the Brainerd area, moving northwest.
Storms are moving at 60 mph and have the ability to produce hailstones up to the size of a quarter, KARE 11 meteorologist Ben Dery says.
There is a severe thunderstorm warning in Hennepin and Ramsey counties until 2:30 p.m. A severe thunderstorm warning is also active in Olmsted and Wabasha counties until 2:45 p.m.
A tornado warning in Pope and Stevens counties expired at 2:15 p.m.
More severe weather is expected in western Wisconsin.
Credit: KARE 11 Weather
Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Minneapolis MN, Saint Paul MN and Bloomington MN until 2:30 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/iBiV3RqU3E
— NWS Twin Cities (@NWSTwinCities) May 15, 2025
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - As many as 10 tornadoes touched down in Minnesota and western Wisconsin on Thursday as storms pushed east.Storms begin to push into northern MN, WisconsinWhat we know:The worst of the storms have passed out of the Twin Cities metro but tornado warnings have been issued in parts of northern Minnesota and western Wisconsin as the storms push east....
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - As many as 10 tornadoes touched down in Minnesota and western Wisconsin on Thursday as storms pushed east.
What we know:
The worst of the storms have passed out of the Twin Cities metro but tornado warnings have been issued in parts of northern Minnesota and western Wisconsin as the storms push east.
Tornadoes were reported in Minnesota and western Wisconsin on Thursday as storms pushed east. There was a report of an observed tornado in the New Richmond area and near Roberts around 3:30 p.m. There was also a report of a tornado near Spring Hill, not far from Melrose, that left behind debris.
There was a report of an observed tornado in the New Richmond area and near Roberts around 3:30 p.m.
What we know:
The National Weather Service says a tornado was reported in central Minnesota near Melrose, Minn. – about 30 miles northwest of St. Cloud. The report came in at around 2:52 p.m.
There was also a report of a tornado near Spring Hill, not far from Melrose, that left behind debris.
The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for parts of Stearns and Todd counties as a result of the report.
What we know:
A doppler-indicated tornado warning was issued covering downtown Minneapolis at 2:25 p.m.
There are no reports of observed tornadoes or funnel clouds in Minneapolis.
Power outages have been reported in the Twin Cities as a tornado-warned storm moved through downtown Minneapolis. According to Xcel Energy Center's outage map, more than 2,500 customers have been impacted in the Twin Cities metro.
The warning expired at 2:46 p.m.
Why you should care:
The tornado watch is in effect until 8 p.m. for much of central Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
The watch storms expected in the afternoon hours could bring a few tornadoes along with large hail and wind gusts up to 70 mph.
The storms are set to move through in the early to mid-afternoon hours. The watch expires at 8 p.m.
A funnel cloud was captured on camera during a tornado-warned storm in Benson, Minnesota, on May 15, 2025. This video was sent to FOX 9 by Tammy.
Local perspective:
The National Weather Service says a trained observer reported a tornado spinning southwest of Benson, Minn. in Swift County around 1:15 p.m.
That's about 120 miles west of the Twin Cities. FOX 9 is tracking the storms and will provide updates as available.
Minutes later, the weather service reported another tornado report southeast of Morris, which is just to the north of the other report.
What you can do:
If you are able to safely take a photo of the storm or of damage, you can send them to fox9.com/photos.
Timeline:
The afternoon storms are forecast for the region between noon and 7 p.m. on Thursday.
Storms will start earlier in central and southern Minnesota, before moving to the north and east. The Twin Cities metro could see storms in the early afternoon hours before wrapping up around 3-4 p.m. The storms are forecast to move out of the FOX 9 viewing area by the dinner hour.
The area that could see the highest chance of severe weather is in western Wisconsin, stretching into the northern end of the I-35 corridor.
What to expect:
Afternoon storms could bring large hail that's 1-2 inches, wind gusts of up to 60-plus mph, and there is an isolated risk of tornadoes.
Parts of central Minnesota are also under a Level 2 and Level 3 risk of severe weather on Thursday. The Level 3 risk stretches from eastern Minnesota, including areas near and northeast of the Twin Cities, into Wisconsin.
The high on Thursday is around 81 degrees in the Twin Cities metro.
The severe weather outlook for May 15, 2025.
What's next:
After a stretch of sunny, warm weather this week, things are changing. Thursday will bring the potential for storms, and then it gets much cooler for the weekend.
Widespread 50s are in the forecast for Friday afternoon.
This weekend, highs in the 50s are in the forecast on Saturday, while Sunday will be more pleasant, with highs in the 60s and some sunshine.
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