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BOUNDARY WATERS — Firefighters are shifting their focus to the largest fire burning in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness as it draws nearer to residences and resorts on the Echo Trail.
The Bear Trap Fire was estimated at 34,500 acres as of midday Friday and was estimated to be about a mile from the north shore of Big Lake, about 20 miles up the Echo Trail north of Ely.
"There is significant infrastructure along the Echo Trail as well as Big Lake — resorts, cabins, homes, all kinds of infrastructure that we are prioritizing our resources to get them out there and protect those values," said Jason Loomis, incident commander for the National Incident Management Organization team that has taken over the five fires on the Superior National Forest.
The area was evacuated Wednesday, according to maps from St. Louis County.
While thunderstorms provided some temporary relief from the heavy smoke in the area, officials noted the rain didn't make a significant impact on the firefight, and lightning may have started additional fires.
"We're already back into warm conditions. It's getting breezy. It's not going to take long before those fuels are very receptive and available to burn," Loomis said.
He said the hot, dry conditions are unprecedented for the region, further exacerbated by several low-snow winters.
"That's the kind of stuff we see in Arizona and dry, arid climates," he said. "Not up here in upstate Minnesota."
An estimated 77,000 acres, roughly twice the size of Lake Vermilion, have burned across the forest in total, and that number is expected to increase. Officials have repeatedly said they expect fires to be burning until snow falls.
The latest fire information can be found on InciWeb, including estimated size, fire behavior and firefighting activity.
Acting Forest Supervisor Drew Stroberg said he is only aware of a few structures lost, which he thinks were all Forest Service structures. Those were part of the Sioux Fire, located midway between Ely and Crane Lake.
Stroberg estimated about 90% of the Boundary Waters has been checked for campers, the same estimate shared Thursday.
He said officials are tracking one group that is making its way out of the wilderness. The number of rangers sweeping the Boundary Waters has increased to 30, with two to a canoe, he said, and it may take three to four more days to finish the sweep.
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