Disasters

About 30 percent of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area wildfire is under control now, after receiving more than a quarter of an inch of rain yesterday. Around Sea Gull Lake the rain let ground crews work right on the fire line. Cathy Wurzer spoke with Jeff Edmonds, Fire Information Center for the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center.
Firefighters make progress on BWCA fire
Firefighters continued to make good progress on the Boundary Waters Canoe Area wildfire, as they were helped by continued moderate weather.
Upbeat but vigilant at Cavity Lake
Officials leading the fight against the Cavity Lake fire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness offered residents some good news Friday, and some words of caution.
Friday update from the Cavity Lake Fire
Officials monitoring the Cavity Lake fire in the BWCAW reported Friday they were very pleased with progress. While the fire is spreading west into the wilderness area, it seems to be relatively contained to the west and southwest. That's where many homes and businesses along the Gunflint Trail lie.
BWCA firefighters dig in for long haul
On the edge of the Boundary Waters, firefighters breathed a sigh of relief Thursday as the Cavity Lake Fire grew only slightly. But they're digging in for a long stay.
Photographers get up close to BWCA fire
While the fire presents danger to people and property, it also presents an opportunity for local photographers. A few of them were so attracted to the flames that they got in their boats for a closer look. MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with Barb Tuttle, who took pictures of the Cavity Lake fire from Seagull Lake before it was closed to the public.
BWCA fire: Watching the winds, hoping for rain
Strong winds fanned flames and threatened the homes and businesses along northeast Minnesota's Gunflint Trail Wednesday, as a large forest fire continued to grow near Seagull Lake. The Cavity Lake fire has burned more than 20,000 acres. While parts of the state saw much-needed rain Wednesday, the Boundary Waters got little.
A closeup view of the BWCA fire
The forest fire sweeping through parts of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is cause for concern to visitors and residents of the area. Several people who live near the Gunflint Trail captured the fire in some dramatic photos from the south shore of Seagull Lake.
Quick storm wets roads and fields but crops need more rain
Fast-moving thunderstorms rolled across the region dropping rain in some areas and teasing others with just a few drops. Dry farm fields and rivers and streams still need more rain.
BWCA wildfire spreading quickly
A wildfire in the northern Minnesota wilderness, fanned by dry winds and feasting on dead timber, has grown to more than 23 square miles in three days, puzzling officials who are trying to get a handle on the blaze.