DULUTH — The first wildfire of 2023 in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness wasn't growing Wednesday evening, June 14, but extremely dry conditions mean it will likely burn for days.
Tim Engrav, public information officer with the Superior National Forest, said helicopters and water bomber aircraft dropped water on the fire throughout the day Wednesday after the blaze was first discovered Tuesday afternoon.
“Fire activity remained low throughout the day with those suppression actions taking place,” Engrav said by phone Wednesday.
The wildfire is between Spice Lake and Ogishkemuncie Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness on the Gunflint Ranger District of the Superior National Forest. Spice Lake is located approximately 10 miles west of the Gunflint Trail. The cause of the fire has not been determined, officials said, but it is estimated to be 30 acres in size.
An aircraft took a flight Tuesday to observe the fire’s activity and location. Active and moderate fire activity was witnessed in a mixed boreal forest with aspen, pine and balsam fir tree species. There is also evidence of spruce budworm-affected trees, which means dead down and standing trees.
“It’s an insect that will kill this balsam fir, and when it does it, leaves them dead and standing,” Engrav said, “and that becomes a pretty flammable forest fuel.”
Engrav said the focus now is flying in firefighters to the site of the wildfire by float plane. Closures to areas of the BWCAW are impending, but details weren’t available Wednesday evening, he said.
Fire personnel looked for public canoe groups on area lakes Tuesday and made contact with several groups on Ogishkemuncie Lake. To ensure public safety, they directed them off the lake to the east, a news release stated.
In terms of wind, the weather forecast bodes well for firefighting efforts, Engrav said. But the low humidity and no rain in sight in the 10-day forecast means dry conditions will likely worsen.
“We've been below average on rainfall for April, May, and that’s continuing on in June,” Engrav said. “We dried out rapidly after this winter, and now we have, basically, conditions that are starting to break records in terms of how dry the available fuels in the forest are.”
Fire ban begins today for the Boundary Waters Wilderness. The Forest Service announced a fire ban for the Superior National Forest, including the BWCAW, effective June 14 until further notice. You are allowed to use gas or propane stoves. Exercise extra caution! pic.twitter.com/xkRLPuYtSM
— Boundary Waters (@savethebwca) June 14, 2023
Coincidentally the same day as the fire began burning, U.S. Forest Service officials decided to set restrictions on fire activity within the Superior National Forest.
“It was agreed upon that the time was right,” Engrav said. “The conditions were getting so dry.”
An Emergency Forest Order restricted the igniting, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire, including charcoal grills and barbecues, coal, and wood-burning stoves to reduce the likelihood of a wildfire. The Superior National Forest includes the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; St. Louis, Cook, Carlton, and Lake counties; and the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa are also enacting campfire restrictions.
Campfires are allowed only within Forest Service-provided campfire structures (fire rings) at designated recreation sites, which include fee campgrounds with campfire structures designed and installed by the Forest Service. It also includes designated campfire structures at U.S. Forest Service-permitted resorts, recreation residences or organizational camps. A list of designated recreation sites and a map of the area are available at fs.usda.gov/superior.
“We dried out rapidly after this winter, and now we have, basically, conditions that are starting to break records in terms of how dry the available fuels in the forest are.”Tim Engrav, public information officer, Superior National Forest
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness designated campsites, no-fee rustic campgrounds or dispersed/backcountry campsites are under full restriction and are not exempt from this order.
Gas or propane cook stoves are allowed throughout the Superior National Forest and are a safer option than campfires, forest officials stated. These restrictions will continue until further notice.
“It is extremely important that people are careful with campfires in areas where they are allowed,” a news release stated. “If you are in a location where you can have a campfire, consider if the conditions are right and if you need a fire. Be sure to keep your campfire small and put it out cold to the touch whenever you leave it. All campfires must be attended all times.”
