Superior National Forest Prescribed Burn - October 5, 2015

The Superior National Forest West Zone Fire Organization anticipates a window for prescribed burns next week. 

Project Names: River Point and River Point Unit 5

Location and project size:

This project consists of two burn units south of Ely, MN just off Highway 1.

• An 18 acre unit north of the highway will be referred to as River Point Unit 5 (Unit 5): Township (T) 62 North, Range (R) 11 West, Section (S) 30.
• The 111 acre unit south of Highway 1 runs along the road into River Point Resort: T62NR11WS31.

Purpose: The Superior National Forest is planning to conduct two prescribed burns south of Ely along the Kawishiwi River to reduce hazardous fuels and wildfire threat to private lands and residences. These burns are the next step in an ongoing effort to reduce hazardous fuels. Balsam fir are highly flammable with low hanging branches—creating ladders which fire climbs up into the crowns of trees.
Historically, periodic fires kept the rate of balsam growth in the forest at a much lower percentage, but fire suppression during the last 100 years has allowed balsam fir to become much more prevalent in the understory. In these units, balsam and other fuels were harvested or crushed with machinery but burning is necessary to kill balsam seedlings and sprouts, giving pine and other native plants sunlight and room to grow. Slash was pulled back from the trunks of large pines to protect them from the understory fire. Mature white and red pine trees have thicker bark which resists fire damage.

Today’s message: Exactly when the burns will be accomplished will be dependent on weather. Shorter days and increased moisture in fine fuels make finding weather windows for fall burns challenging. The smaller burn may be ignited as early as Monday, October 5, 2015. The larger unit may be done later in the week. Aerial resources including a helicopter may be used for ignition (on the larger unit) and for monitoring fire behavior. Another notice will be sent out the day ignition is most likely.

Caution for Travel on Highway 1: During ignition of the southern unit, be especially cautious exiting the Kawishiwi River Bridge. Please slow down and be prepared for heavy smoke, fire fighters, and fire engines on Highway 1 between the Ely Airport and the South Kawishiwi Campground.

This information is supplied by the USFS Kawishiwi Ranger District, October 3, 2015

Prescribe burn update - October 7, 2014

Observers may see smoke and even flames on the interior of burn areas listed below as fire continues to smolder and consume more pockets of fuel, which is what fire managers want to have happen. Holding lines are secure. Smoldering may continue until significant snowfall.

• Coo Lake North, T63N, R13W, S20, is 19 acres, is on a peninsula on the western edge of Burntside Lake.
•  Bear Island Island Unit, T61N, R13W, S10, 121 acres, is the large island in the center of Bear Island Lake. This unit continues to put up a fair amount of smoke.
•   Pine Ridge Unit, T65N, R16W, S1, 90 acres, is north of the Echo Trail and west of Jeanette Lake. About half of this unit was ignited.

·         In addition, fire crews burned some brush piles along the Mushroom Island Road (Township 62 N, Range 12 W, Section 1) just to the west of the mid-section of White Iron Lake, east of Ely, MN yesterday.

Crews continue to monitor all of the areas listed above. They watch for both weather patterns and fire behavior.

Safety message: 

Please do not walk in “the black” as burned areas are called. Root systems of trees may have been burned so that a green tree might topple over without warning. Holes may be filled with smoldering material.

Fire crews may return to these sites to perform additional prescribed burns within the next several years to continue clean-up and encourage the comeback of desired species.  For more information, contact Becca Manlove, Information Officer, Kawishiwi Ranger District, 218-365-2093. 

Prescribe burn update - September 27, 2014

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Yesterday, fire fighters successfully ignited a prescribed burn of the Bear Island Island Unit. A holding crew is already on site this morning to monitor its progress. Gustier winds are anticipated for today helping to consume pockets of unburned hazards on the island.

A small burn on Coo Lake North was extinguished due to the winds expected today. The Pine Ridge and Kangas Units are also being prepared. Cooler temperatures and lighter winds are predicted for tomorrow. The likelihood of one quarter to one half an inch of rain falling in the afternoon is another factor being considered. To allow for the most accurate weather prediction, fire managers will determine which of the three remaining units to focus on on the day of ignition (possibly tomorrow).

• Coo Lake North, T63N, R13W, S20, is 19 acres, is on a peninsula on the western edge of Burntside Lake.

·         Bear Island Island Unit, T61N, R13W, S10, 121 acres, is the large island in the center of Bear Island Lake.

·         Kangas Burn Unit, T61N, R12W, S14, 99 acres, is south of the Blueberry Lake Road (St. Louis County Road 120) at the end of U5192AA south of Little Lake.

·         Pine Ridge Unit, T65N, R16W, S1, 90 acres, is north of the Echo Trail and west of Jeanette Lake.

Please leave fire fighters space to do their work. Be mindful of aircraft. They may need to scoop water from the lake. Please don’t park fire engines in—they may need to respond to other fires or re-position to support the prescribed burn.

All Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Entry Points and Superior National Forest Trails are expected to remain open. People may see and smell smoke. As always, the safety of fire fighters, residents, and visitors is the first priority in using fire to reduce hazardous fuels. There will be increased traffic on roads and the lake due to fire operations. Aerial resources may be used for safety, communications, additional control, and monitoring.  For maps and more information: http://www.fs.usda.gov/superior or call 218-365-7600. (Not all of the units shown on the maps are scheduled to be burned at this time.) 

Prescribe burn update from the USFS - September 26, 2014

September 26, 2014

Yesterday, a test fire showed conditions to be too moist for good consumption of hazardous fuels to ignite the Coo Lake North unit. Cloud cover that was predicted to break up by mid-afternoon did not disperse.

A meteorologist from NOAA joined the crew yesterday evening. Spot weather predictions indicated good burning conditions for today, September 26, 2014. The Bear Island Island Unit was chosen because of predicted wind direction, temperatures, and expected weather over the next few days. 

Hazardous fuels have been cleared from around two eagles nests and two campsites. These four areas of concern are ‘plumbed’ with sprinkler hoses. Ignition crews will be following burn patterns designed to protect pine stands on the interior of the island while consuming hazardous fuels on the edges. 

• Coo Lake North, T63N, R13W, S20, is 19 acres, is on a peninsula on the western edge of Burntside Lake.
• Bear Island Island Unit, T61N, R13W, S10, 121 acres, is the large island in the center of Bear Island Lake.
• Kangas Burn Unit, T61N, R12W, S14, 99 acres, is south of the Blueberry Lake Road (St. Louis County Road 120) at the end of U5192AA south of Little Lake.
• Pine Ridge Unit, T65N, R16W, S1, 90 acres, is north of the Echo Trail and west of Jeanette Lake.

Please leave fire fighters space to do their work. Be mindful of aircraft. They may need to scoop water from the lake. Please don’t park fire engines in—they may need to respond to other fires or re-position to support the prescribed burn.

All Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Entry Points and Superior National Forest Trails are expected to remain open. People may see and smell smoke. As always, the safety of fire fighters, residents, and visitors is the first priority in using fire to reduce hazardous fuels. There will be increased traffic on roads and the lake due to fire operations. Aerial resources may be used for safety, communications, additional control, and monitoring.  

For maps and more information: http://www.fs.usda.gov/superior or call 218-365-7600. (Not all of the units shown on the maps are scheduled to be burned at this time.) 

Superior National Forest Fire Update 8/29/13

Campfire restrictions for the Gunflint and portions of the Tofte Districts will go into effect after midnight tonight.

Fires will be allowed only between 7 p.m. and midnight in the restricted area.

The restrictions apply only to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) and only to the eastern portions listed in the forest order.


Current Fire Activity:
Knife Lake Fire: 188 acres. Fire is north of the South Arm of Knife and south of Amoeber Lake: Township 65, Range 6 West, Section 18.

Fire managers have successfully suppressed a fire that was in an unsafe and inaccessible location by bringing it out to natural barriers. Suppression was implemented in an efficient and effective manner using limited aerial and hand ignition along with other holding resources on the ground. A weather front passed through last night but did not produce any rain. Gusty winds tested control lines and they held well. At 1:00 p.m. today rain was beginning to fall on the fire.

Containment is at 60% and rising steadily. The South Arm of Knife closures of campsites, waterways, and portages are still in place.

Fires now out:
• Disappointment Lake Fire: quarter acre, discovered Saturday evening, August 24, 2013. Declared out on 8/27/13.

•  Sedative Lake Fire, north of Ima: Township 64, Range 7 West, Section 17. Reported at three tenths of an acre in size. Called out this morning.

Resources: Sixteen fire fighters and four public safety staff on the Knife Lake Fire; two deHavilland Beaver floatplanes at the Ely Seaplane Base;

For a location map of the three fires, the South Arm of Knife Lake closure order, a closure map, fire restrictions order and map, and daily fire updates please see our website: www.fs.usda.gov/superior.