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.

Superior National Forest Fire Report - Sept 15, 2012

Special Notifications:  Various closures are in effect due to the Parley Fire, the Hoist Bay Fire, and the Canadian Emerald Fire near Knife Lake. Please see the details below. 

• Public Safety crews are posting these areas. 
• Fire restrictions remain in effect in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Campfires are allowed only between 7 p.m. and midnight.

NOTE:  There was very little change, overall, with the small wildfires on the Superior National Forest.  Public safety crews are notifying people in the Wilderness.  Wind direction is expected to shift to northwest Sunday and push smoke from these fires towards populated areas.

Current Fire Activity: 

Parley Lake Fire, Currently 35acres, within the BWCAW, T66 R12 S18, east of the Beartrap River, north of Sunday Lake, west of Sunday Bay of Crooked Lake, discovered Sept 12.

• Aircraft are continuing water drops. Ground crews are on scene. Containment – 40%.   
• Closures:  Campsites on Sunday and Saturday Bays of Crooked Lake, the Beartrap River, and Zones 1, 2, and 5 of the Sundial Primitive Management Area are closed.
• Travel through Sunday and Saturday Bays is still being allowed.

Hoist Bay Fire:  Remains at  2 1/2 acres, T64 R10 S17, between Hoist and Back Bay of Basswood Lake. This fire was detected on 9/12/12.

• Aircraft water drops continue.  Fire crews are on scene.  100% containment today.

Closures:

• Four Mile Portage, Ella Hall, Muskeg, Slumber, and Mud Lakes (out of Fall Lake) plus Back Bay and Hoist Bay of Basswood. 
• Additional portage closures include Pipestone to Back Bay, Back Bay toward Half Dog Island/Basswood (a.k.a. Frog Portage), and from Hoist Bay to Good Lake. 
• Public Safety crews are notifying visitors in the area. 

Fort Frances #53, also known as the Norway Point Fire, 52 acres, remains on Canadian soil and is being monitored by Quetico and U.S. personnel.

Fort Frances #59/Emerald Lake Fire, between Knife Lake and Emerald Lake, approximately 500 acres, and continues to be very active.

• The fire remains on the Quetico side and a Canadian fire crew is on scene. 
• Forest Service crews are monitoring this fire and are prepared to actively support Canadian fire crews as needed.
• Tomorrow the winds are predicted to be out of the northwest.  Areas along the Gunflint trail will likely experience smoke. 
• A closure has been put in place on the U.S. side to ensure visitor safety. 

Closure:  From the US/Canadian border heading south along the section lines of T65N, R7 W, sections 21 and 28, including all campsites on islands and peninsulas on adjacent lands.

• The following lakes, portages, and campsites are closed:  from the US/Canadian border on Knife Lake to the east end of Swamp Lake, South Arm of Knife Lake, Little Knife Lake, Amoeber Lake, Topaz Lake, Cherry Lake, Hanson Lake, Clam Lake, Lunar Lake, Lake of the Clouds, Rivalry Lake,  Gijikiki Lake, Ester Lake, Ottertrack Lake, Rabbit Lake, Ashdick Lake, and Swamp Lake. 
• Portages from South Arm of Knife Lake to Bonnie Lake, South Arm of Knife Lake to Sema Lake, South Arm of Knife Lake to Eddy Lake, Swamp Lake to Saganaga Lake are closed.  Northbound travel from Bonnie Lake, across the Bonnie Lake to South Arm Knife Lake portage, and west bound transit through the South Arm Knife Lake to Knife Lake and out of the closure area is allowed.  Closure signs will be posted.

A new small fire was detected yesterday on the east side of Windy Lake on the Tofte Ranger District.  Crews immediately responded and controlled the fire at 1/10 acres.  Full containment is anticipated today.

Peterson Lake Fireon the east side of the forest near Horn Lake: T 62 R4 S14, SW of the NW, detected 9/12.  Size is one quarter acre. This fire is 100% contained and a ground crew is on the fire this morning.   Monitoring will continue by aircraft.

Mora Lake Fire on the east side of the forest, detected on 9/12, size revised to 3 acres.  The fire is 100% contained.  Fire crews will continue to patrol and monitor the fire.

Resources Available:A total of 44   personnel.  Forest Service and contract fire engines,  Service Beaver float planes, Type 2 and Type 3 helicopters are assigned to the fire operations.  CL215s and more helicopters are available if needed.

Controlled Fires:

Cummings Lake Fire: T64 R14 Section 28, BWCAW; declared ‘controlled’ on 9/12/12. The fire line is holding well but the fire will not be out without significant rain or snowfall. This fire will be monitored by both ground and air crews.

Colby Lake Fire: a half acre near Hoyt Lakes; discovered 9/13/12. It is being patrolled daily by an engine crew.    

Fires Suppressed and Declared Out:

The Batista Fire near Batista Lake, Township 66, Range 13, the northeast corner of Section 9—east of (U.S.) Agnes and west of Iron Lake, was declared out. Wooden Leg Fire (T64 R9 Section 13: -91 25.43, 48 01.42) out.

• The lake, portage, and trail closures associated with this fire are lifted.
• Fire restrictions (fires only between 7 p.m. and midnight) are still in effect in this area as well as within the entire BWCAW.

Birch Lake #2 Fire was fought by Forest Service, Morse/Fall Lake, and Babbitt Fire Departments. The fire is declared ‘out’ at one tenth of an acre.

Camp Lake Fire is one tenth of an acre. Declared out on 9/12/12.

8 other fires were declared out between September 6th and 10^th.

Small Fire on Polly, Windy, Peterson, Mora, Little Devil, near Rosendal Lake

Special Notifications:  Various closures are in effect due to the Parley Fire, the Hoist Bay Fire, and the Canadian Emerald Lake Fire near Knife Lake. Please see the details below. 

• Public Safety crews are posting these areas. 
• Fire restrictions remain in effect in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
• Campfires are allowed only between 7 p.m. and midnight.

NOTE:  Conditions are very dry and fire danger is very high across the Forest.   There have been several small fire starts over the past few days which fire crews have quickly suppressed.  Public safety crews are notifying people in the Wilderness about closures and restrictions. 

Wind direction is expected to shift to northwest today and push smoke from these fires towards populated areas increasing the potential for a noticeable smell of smoke.  Temperatures will be cooler with some change of precipitation but conditions are expected to remain dry.

Current Fire Activity: 

Parley Lake Fire, is 35acres within the BWCAW, T66 R12 S18, east of the Beartrap River, north of Sunday Lake, west of Sunday Bay of Crooked Lake, was discovered Sept 12. 

• Ground crews will continue mop-up and line construction. 
• Fire crews are working towards reaching 100% containment by end of today.   

Closures:  Campsites on Sunday and Saturday Bays of Crooked Lake, the Beartrap River, and Zones 1, 2, and 5 of the Sundial Primitive Management Area are closed.

• Travel through Sunday and Saturday Bays is still being allowed.

Hoist Bay Fire remains at 2 1/2 acres within the BWCAW, T64 R10 S17, between Hoist and Back Bay of Basswood Lake.  This fire was detected on 9/12/12.  

• The fire was 100% contained yesterday. 
• Fire crews are working towards reaching control of the fire by the end of today’s shift.    

Closures:  Four Mile Portage, Ella Hall, Muskeg, Slumber, and Mud Lakes (out of Fall Lake) plus Back Bay and Hoist Bay of Basswood. 

Additional portage closures include Pipestone to Back Bay, Back Bay toward Half Dog Island/Basswood (a.k.a. Frog Portage), and from Hoist Bay to Good Lake. 

Public Safety crews are notifying visitors in the area. 

Fort Frances #53, also known as the Norway Point Fire, 52 acres, remains on Canadian soil and is being monitored by Quetico and U.S. personnel.

Fort Frances #59/Emerald Lake Fire, between Knife Lake and Emerald Lake, is estimated at 525 acres, and continues to be active. The fire remains on the Quetico side and a Canadian fire crew is on scene. 

• Forest Service crews are monitoring this fire and are prepared to actively support Canadian fire crews as needed.
• Today winds are predicted to be out of the northwest and will likely push smoke into the Gunflint Trail area.
• A closure has been put in place on the U.S. side to ensure visitor safety. 

Closure:  From the US/Canadian border heading south along the section lines of T65N, R7 W, sections 21 and 28, including all campsites on islands and peninsulas on adjacent lands.

The following lakes, portages, and campsites are closed: 

• From the US/Canadian border on Knife Lake to the east end of Swamp Lake, South Arm of Knife Lake, Little Knife Lake, Amoeber Lake, Topaz Lake, Cherry Lake, Hanson Lake, Clam Lake, Lunar Lake, Lake of the Clouds, Rivalry Lake,  Gijikiki Lake, Ester Lake, Ottertrack Lake, Rabbit Lake, Ashdick Lake, and Swamp Lake. 
• Portages from South Arm of Knife Lake to Bonnie Lake, South Arm of Knife Lake to Sema Lake, South Arm of Knife Lake to Eddy Lake, Swamp Lake to Saganaga Lake are closed.  Northbound travel from Bonnie Lake, across the Bonnie Lake to South Arm Knife Lake portage, and west bound transit through the South Arm Knife Lake to Knife Lake and out of the closure area is allowed. 
• Closure signs will be posted.

Windy Lake Fire, was a new fire detected yesterday on the east side of Windy Lake. T61N, R6W, S26. 

Crews immediately responded and controlled the fire at 1/10 acres. 

Full containment is anticipated today.

248A Fire, T61N R18W S22, was a new small fire in a gravel pit southwest of Big Rosendal Lake.  The fire was small, easily extinguished, and declared out. 

This fire started as an unattended campfire and serves as an important reminder to extinguish all campfires before leaving.

Polly Lake Fire, T63N R6E S34 on the East Zone, estimated at one to two tenths of an acre is a new fire detected yesterday. 

• Forest Service Beavers and a Type 2 Helicopter dropped water.
• In patrol status today.

Peterson Lake Fireon the east side of the forest near Horn Lake: T 62 R4 S14, SW of the NW, detected 9/12.  Size is one quarter acre. This fire is contained and controlled.  

• Monitoring will continue by aircraft.

Mora Lake Fire on the east side of the forest, detected on 9/12, size revised to 3 acres.  The fire is 100% contained. 

• Aircraft will continue to patrol and monitor the fire.

Resources Available:A total of 180 people are assigned or available on stand-by.  Forest Service and contract fire engines, Forest Service Beaver float planes, one Type 2 and two Type 3 helicopters are assigned to fire operations.  CL215s and more helicopters are available if needed.

Controlled Fires:

Cummings Lake Fire,  located at T64 R14 Section 28, BWCAW, was declared ‘controlled’ on 9/12/12. 

• The fire line is holding well but the fire will not be out without significant rain or snowfall. 
• Monitoring by both ground and air crews has not detected further smoke but the fire will remain patrolled until out. 

Colby Lake Fire, a half-acre fire near Hoyt Lakes, discovered 9/13/12, is being patrolled daily by an engine crew.  

Little Devil Fire, at T61N R1E S12, a 1/10 acre fire outside the BWCAW near Grand Marais, was detected yesterday, quickly controlled, contained, and remains in patrol status.

Season Summary:

In addition to the active fires listed above, crews have put out 10 fires since the beginning of September. Of a total of 54 fires during 2012, 32 were human caused and 22 were caused by lightning. The total acreage burned by wildfire to date is 315.

Fire Restrictions

As of today, May 11, 2010 the US Forest Service still has the Boundary Waters Canoe Area under complete fire restrictions. If you are headed up to canoe and camp in the BWCA plan on having a camp stove and fuel to cook on.

The forecast is calling for some rain this week. We will have to wait and see if it is enough for the fire restrictions to change. It has been a very dry spring and moisture is still in great need. The US Forest Service keeps telling us that we will need more than just a day of rain to make any restriction changes.

Check with us here at Spirit of the Wilderness outfitters for updates. You can email us at info@elycanoetrips.com or call us at 800-950-2709 or 218-365-3149.