Tim Walz says wildfire relief package likely to wait until 2027 sessionMinnesota Gov. Speaking during a press briefing on the state’s wildfire response, Walz said he recognizes the financial strain many businesses have faced after wildfire-related closures disrupted the peak summer tourism season. “I would encourage the legislature to right now start working on a package of relief for the area,” Walz said. Walz emphasized that allowing the emergency declaration to expire does not mean the state is ending its wildfire response. At the peak of the July wildfire response in northern Minnesota, Warnke said there were 2,400 firefighting personnel designated to response efforts.