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Live updates: Wildfires in Minnesota

Closeup of a card held by a woman. — Cecilia Rolando makes a card for firefighters at the Ely Community Response Hub on July 20.
Jon Stegenga for MPR News

Two people paddle a canoe on a lake. — Dave Drentlaw and Wendy Smith of Northfield paddle into Sawbill Lake for a day trip into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area on July 27, after parts of the wilderness reopened following a closure due to wildfires. Forest Service officials announced Monday that a temporary campfire ban in the BWCA is being lifted.
Dan Kraker | MPR News

Forest Service ends campfire ban in the Boundary Waters

MPR News Staff6:55 p.m. Aug. 24

A procession on a highway — Firefighters, first responders and law enforcement officials escorted the body of Leslie Washington from Ely to Duluth and then the Twin Cities on Tuesday, Aug. 11. Washington died Tuesday while working to contain the wildfires burning in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.
Courtesy of Scorched Earth Services

Officials ID Alaskan crew member who died while fighting Boundary Waters wildfires

Dan KrakerDuluth 12:53 p.m. Aug. 13

Historic State Theater in Ely — The marquee at the Historic State Theater reads “Thank You Fire Fighters” as pedestrians walk through downtown on Thursday, July 16, in Ely.
Kerem Yücel | MPR News

Crew member battling to contain northern Minnesota wildfires dies

Dan KrakerDuluth 9:35 p.m. Aug. 11Updated: 9:43 p.m. Aug. 11

Cassidy and Matt Ritter — Voyageur Canoe Outfitters co-owners Cassidy and Matt Ritter stand by stacks of unused canoes on Monday, July 20.
Chuck Olsen for MPR News

‘Devastating blow’: Special session unlikely, but BWCA outfitters still plead for fire relief

Dan KrakerDuluth 5:37 p.m. Aug. 6

A man speaks at a podium — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks at a briefing in St. Paul about wildfires burning in the Boundary Waters on Wednesday.
Estelle Timar-Wilcox | MPR News

Walz: No need to extend peacetime emergency for Boundary Waters wildfires

Peter Cox5:17 p.m. Aug. 5

Walz, other Minnesota officials to give update on Boundary Waters wildfires

MPR News Staff3:06 p.m. Aug. 5

A tree torches during a wildfire near a lake — A tree torches near a lake during the wildfires in northeastern Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness on July 29, 2026.
U.S. Forest Service / Inciweb

Rain helps contain wildfires so more of the BWCA will reopen, but fires burn on

Hannah Yang10:10 p.m. Aug. 4

Watch: Officials provide updates on wildfires in northeastern Minnesota

MPR News StaffEly, Minn. 1:04 p.m. Aug. 4

A tree torches during a wildfire near a lake — A tree torches near a lake during the wildfires in northeastern Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness on July 29.
U.S. Forest Service / Inciweb

Gusty winds, dry conditions cause uptick in northeastern Minnesota wildfire activity

MPR News Staff6:20 p.m. Aug. 3

A wooden Smokey Bear sign stands under a flagpole. — Fire danger sign reads extreme outside the U.S. Forest Service Ranger Station In Ely on July 20, 2026.
Jon Stegenga for MPR News

Forest Service announces more campground and entry point reopenings

MPR News Staff1:30 p.m. Aug. 2

Two people paddle a canoe on a lake. — Dave Drentlaw and Wendy Smith of Northfield, paddle into Sawbill Lake for a day trip into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area on July 27.
Dan Kraker | MPR News

Forest Service will open some Boundary Waters entry points for overnight use

MPR News Staff3:50 p.m. Aug. 1

Stacks of unused resort canoes. — Stacks of canoes sit idle at Voyageur Canoe Outifitters on Saganaga Lake on July 18.
Chuck Olsen | WTIP

Northeast Minnesota wildfires causing disastrous economic impacts to tourism industry

Hannah Yang12:00 p.m. Aug. 1

A map shows regions of the BWCA reopening. — A map shows areas of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness that are open as of July 31 and those areas that remain closed due to ongoing wildfires burning in and around the wilderness.
Courtesy of Superior National Forest

Northern Minnesota July lightning fires nearly 60 percent contained, crews watch for new starts

Annie Baxter and David Schaper5:19 p.m. Jul. 31

An electronic sign on the side of the road reads, "Thank you fire fighters." — A sign at a local business in Ely, displays a message of support for firefighters battling the wildfires on Monday, July 20.
Jon Stegenga for MPR News

United Way fund available to help Ely-area small businesses impacted by wildfires recover

Hannah Yang9:00 a.m. Jul. 31

Two people paddle a canoe on a lake. — Dave Drentlaw and Wendy Smith of Northfield, Minn. paddle into Sawbill Lake for a day trip into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area on Monday.
Dan Kraker | MPR News

Forest Service to open more of the Boundary Waters to canoeing as wildfire concerns ease

Dan Kraker5:15 p.m. Jul. 30Updated: 5:32 p.m. Jul. 30

Three people in a canoe paddle out into a lake. — Pat Moline of Maple Grove, Minn. steers a canoe on to Sawbill Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area on Monday. The wilderness had just reopened for day trips following a closure because of wildfires.
Dan Kraker | MPR News

Back into the BWCA: Canoeing campers return to the wilderness after wildfire closure

Dan KrakerSawbill Lake, Minn. 9:00 a.m. Jul. 30

Disaster relief workers line up in their own canoes on a lake during a sunny day. — Wilderness rangers with the Superior National Forest transport canoes and gear left behind by campers and canoeists who had to be evacuated from Pipestone Bay in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness due to wildfires. The rangers returned to Pipestone Bay on Sunday to assess campsites for damage, and recovered the abandoned gear.
Courtesy of the Superior National Forest

Rangers recover canoes, gear abandoned by campers who fled BWCA fires

Kirsti Marohn9:55 p.m. Jul. 29

YMCA Camp Widjiwagan — A sign marks the entrance to YMCA Camp Widjiwagan on July 15, near Ely.
Kerem Yücel | MPR News

Northern Minnesota camps to reopen as wildfire conditions improve

Kirsti Marohn7:32 p.m. Jul. 29

Campfire restrictions eased in parts of Superior National Forest, but continue in BWCA

Kirsti Marohn5:35 p.m. Jul. 29

Minnesota wildfires 50% contained; moderate air quality through Tuesday

Anna Haecherl2:59 p.m. Jul. 28Updated: 8:45 p.m. Jul. 28