DULUTH — A wildfire detected late Tuesday afternoon, June 13, is burning in the Boundary Waters just as officials issued fire restrictions in the national forest.
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 flight was taken over the fire for a size up of 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 which can cause active fire behavior.
Fire personnel also looked for public canoe groups on the area lakes and made contact with several groups on Ogishkemuncie Lake. To ensure public safety, they directed them off the lake to the east.
Fire personnel were expected to fly over the fire again Wednesday morning and are developing a fire suppression plan while ensuring firefighter safety, a news release stated. Additionally, staff will begin working on a public safety plan for the area to ensure public visitors remain safe.
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
Restrictions on fires within the Superior National Forest went into effect Wednesday amid the worsening wildfire danger conditions.
Forest officials issued an Emergency Forest Order restricting 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.
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.”
