GRAND MARAIS — Three wildfires are burning the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness amid dry fall conditions and repeated days of windy weather.
According to InciWeb, all three fires are still active, one a month after it began. The Department of Natural Resources map has all of Minnesota in high or very high fire danger.
Bogus Lake Fire
The Bogus Lake Fire was discovered Tuesday, Oct. 8, west of Hovland in the Superior National Forest Gunflint Ranger District. The fire was 53 acres and 100% contained as of Friday morning. SNF and DNR fire crews and aircraft responded to the fire.
The cause of the fire is unknown, though a Tofte District Ranger told WTIP it was likely started by lightning.
A Thursday update said crews had established lines around the fire that were 100% plumbed with hose.
![The Shell Lake Fire burns in the Boundary Waters on Oct. 7, 2024.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e8316ea/2147483647/strip/true/crop/600x800+0+0/resize/880x1173!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F86%2F14%2F10d80eb24eebb7db90e24300a353%2Fshell-lake-fire-20241007.jpg)
"Mop up operations are going well and making good progress," the update said. "The fire continues to take advantage of both USFS and DNR resources staffing the fire and working towards containment."
Shell Lake Fire
The Shell Lake Fire was discovered Monday east of Shell Lake and 4 miles north of Echo Trail in the LaCroix Ranger District. The fire was roughly 3/4-of-an-acre as of Tuesday and burning in mixed timber with thick vegetation cover.
SNF closed Agwato Lake and its one BWCA campsite and two campsites on the eastern side of Shell Lake on Tuesday. Part of the Sioux Hustler Trail loop is also closed, though the trail remains open from the entry point to Devil's Cascade.
The fire is expected to be human-caused, but an official investigation has not taken place.
"Late yesterday afternoon the fire was creeping and smoldering and holding in place as temperatures started to cool and relative humidity levels increased," SNF stated in a news release Tuesday. "A Fire Crew is enroute to Shell Lake this morning to get an on the ground assessment of the fire activity."
Wood Lake Fire
As of Wednesday, the Wood Lake Fire roughly 13 miles northeast of Ely was at 45 acres and 50% containment.
The fire began on an island of Wood Lake on Sept. 10 before it jumped to the lake's northern shore. The fire is also suspected to be human-caused.
A Wednesday update said the fire has slowly increased in size by about 11 acres since Oct. 1. Firefighters remain on-site at Wood Lake, and the fire has been creeping and smoldering.
An some lakes and portages included in the initial closure order issued Sept. 12 have been reopened, but BWCA Entry Point No. 26 Wood Lake; Wood, Hula, Good and Indiana lakes and eight portages remain closed.
Northeastern Minnesota burning restrictions
The DNR expanded its burning restrictions to include Koochiching County and northern St. Louis County, effective Friday.
Burning permits will not be issues for brush or yard waste, and campfires are allowed only in an established fire ring associated with a home, campground or resort.
The same restrictions remain in effect in Lake and Cook counties. Some level of burning restrictions are in effect for the entire state.
![All land within the Superior National Forest Boundary is under fire restrictions beginning Oct. 11, 2024.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9ad906c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7200x5400+0+0/resize/880x660!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F25%2F1a%2Fc2119fae4c65afc71efe43561cf4%2Fsnffirerestrictions.jpg)
A SNF closure order, also effective Friday, restricts "igniting, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire on all land" within the Forest Boundary.
"The potential for wildfire is extremely high, and resources are limited due to an increase in fire and hurricane activity across the U.S.," the order said.
The order also restricts the use of charcoal or wood stoves or grills. Gas, propane and alcohol cook stoves are still allowed.
The order will remain in effect until Dec. 31 or until rescinded, whichever occurs first.
"We can't urge the public enough to consider not using open flame until we have precipitation. Leaf dropping and windy days will compound our current situation," said Joy VanDrie, SNF public affairs officer, in a text message Friday.
"We have found too many abandoned campfires across the area with warm coals — these can easily ignite in these conditions."
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