BOUNDARY WATERS — The U.S. Forest Service is closing 13 Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness entry points and banning campfires beginning at midnight Saturday, July 11.
The measures come as over a dozen wildfires burn on the west side of the Superior National Forest.
Many of the fires sprang up after a storm system moved through July 6, bringing thunder and lightning but little precipitation to the dry region.
The Forest Service closed a few hundred square miles on the west end of the Boundary Waters northwest of Ely, citing the need to protect public health and safety because of the Bear Trap, Thumb and Wolfpack wildfires.
The closure impacts the following entry points:
- Angleworm Lake #20
- Angleworm Trail #21
- Blandin Trail #11
- Herriman Trail #13
- Little Indian Sioux River North #14
- Little Vermilion Lake #12
- Lac La Croix Only #12A
- Moose/Portage River North #16
- Mudro Lake - Restricted #22
- Mudro Lake #23
- South Hegman Lake #77
- Stuart River #19
- Sioux Hustler Trail #15
"This is an on-going situation and we expect to make daily updates," the Forest Service said in a social media update Friday.
The entire Boundary Waters is in high fire danger, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
The campfire ban restricts igniting, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire, including charcoal grills, coal and wood-burning stoves. Gas or propone cook stoves are still allowed. The ban remains in effect until rescinded.
"The potential for wildfire is high across all ownerships in northern Minnesota currently. It is extremely important that people are careful with any sources of ignition such as smoking devices, dragging chains, and recreational vehicles," the Forest Service stated in a news release Friday.
"If you are in a location where you can have a campfire outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, 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."
There are a total of 16 wildfires burning in the Superior National Forest, as of noon Friday. Most of the fires were estimated at a few acres or less, according to InciWeb and the National Interagency Fire Center. The largest as of Friday afternoon was the Thumb Fire, burning south of Lac La Croix and estimated at 20 acres or about 15 football fields.
According to the Forest Service, around 2-5 firefighting personnel were working on each fire, with a few being fought solely from the air. Two wildland firefighting engines and a dozer arrived to support operations outside the Boundary Waters on Thursday.
While more firefighting resources have been requested, availability is limited due to fire activity across the country.
The national wildfire preparedness level is currently a four out of five.
At level four, national resources are heavily committed, national priorities govern resources and there is heavy demand on low activity/inactive geographic areas.
According to the Minnesota Incident Command System, Minnesota agencies are currently supporting 12 states with 173 personnel.
For updates on wildfires, follow MNICS, the U.S. Forest Service and InciWeb.
