ELY — The Superior National Forest plans to begin prescribed burns as early as this week.
In a Thursday, Sept. 11, news release, the agency said the pile burns will begin on the eastern side of the Forest’s Gunflint and Tofte ranger districts, pending required approvals. The western side of the forest will see prescribed burns when conditions improve.
The work is likely to continue through December as weather conditions allow. Prescribed burns are used to reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect from wildfires.
"Prescribed fire is any fire ignited by management actions to meet specific objectives," stated the USDA on a webpage. "We use it as a tool for fuels reduction, vegetation management and wildlife habitat maintenance."
The Gunflint burn areas include approximately 1,500 acres. The Tofte burn areas include about 1,600 acres.
Weather conditions will be evaluated before burns begin and county emergency management officials will be notified of prescribed burning activity.
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Larissa Donovan/KAXEBemidji Area Reporter Larissa Donovan reflects on her work covering stories in northwestern Minnesota and beyond in her ninth year as a journalist. -
Bemidji Area Reporter Larissa Donovan looks back on her work reporting for northwestern Minnesota in 2025 during her ninth year as a journalist. -
Lorie ShaullKAXE reporter Megan Buffington foregoes naming a favorite story and instead examines a favorite beat — and how she answers the oft-asked, "Why did you become a journalist?" -
KAXE reporter Megan Buffington foregoes naming a favorite story and instead examines a favorite beat — and how it answers the oft-asked, "Why did you become a journalist?"
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Our No. 1 and No. 2 stories of year follow the wide-ranging local impacts of sometimes swift and surprising decisions in Washington, D.C., and a severe natural disaster changes the landscape in the Bemidji area.
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Our No. 3 and No. 4 stories of year examine the state's wild rice sulfate standard as U.S. Steel seeks a variance from the MPCA, and the arrest and subsequent resignation of former state Sen. Justin Eichorn.
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Our No. 5 and No. 6 stories of year break down what it means for local sheriffs to help enforce immigration laws, and the impact of budget cuts to library systems across the region.
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Our No. 7 and No. 8 stories of year cover the proliferation of automatic license plate readers as a law enforcement tool in Northern MN, and spring wildfires that destroyed thousands of acres and hundreds of structures.
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KAXE covered natural disasters, federal funding chaos, Eichorn's arrest and resignation, mining permits and wild rice, library budget cuts, sheriffs teaming with ICE and more. -
Our No. 9 and No. 10 stories of year include an unusual strike over whether a wide range of Essentia Health providers can form a union and the controversial sale of an MN utility company.
