🌧️ Recent rains have helped firefighters contain several wildfires burning in and around the BWCA.

 The fires are at least 50 percent contained and some are fully contained.

🛶 More entry points into the BWCA near Ely will be reopening Wednesday morning.

 When they do, about two-thirds of the Boundary Waters will be open for day trips and some overnight camping.

🧑🏻‍🚒The fire fighting isn't over yet:

 Fire officials warned that the persistent dryness in the region, which is in a state of severe drought, could allow fires to flare up again and spread quickly.

🔥 Class 3 fire restrictions are in effect in Lake, Cook and North St. Louis County.

 People who are backpacking in remote areas and camping in the back country are not allowed to have campfires in those areas.

 have about the wildfires in northeast Minnesota?

Forest Service officials say that while progress is being made in containing the wildfires burning in northeastern Minnesota, the fires will likely continue to burn long into the fall.

 


Jon Stegenga for MPR News

Dan Kraker

Small businesses that cater to canoeists and visitors say they need wildfire aid even though Gov. Walz suggests a special session is unlikely. 


Jason Zabokrtsky, owner of Ely Outfitting Co., poses

Minnesota Wildfires

Chuck Olsen for MPR News 

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

Peter Cox

Those fires, sparked by lightning, have burned tens of thousands of acres over the past month. But fire activity has been relatively calm in recent days, as hundreds of firefighters from across the country work to contain them.


Live updates: Wildfires in Minnesota

Estelle Timar-Wilcox | MPR News

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

MPR News Staff

The briefing comes as recent rainfall and cooler weather — along with the ongoing work of hundreds of firefighters — have brought containment of the Boundary Waters wildfires to more than 50 percent.


Jon Stegenga for MPR News file

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

Hannah Yang

The U.S. Forest service says recent rains have helped firefighters in their effort to contain several wildfires burning in and around Minnesota’s Boundary Waters. Now, the fires are at least 50 percent contained and some are fully contained.


A tree torches during a wildfire near a lake 

a dirt road with a barrier blocking access

U.S. Forest Service / Inciweb

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

More than 1,000 firefighters and support personnel are working to contain the wildfires. They’ve made progress, but fire weather forecasters caution that northern Minnesota remains very dry — and above-normal wildfire potential is expected to last through late fall.


U.S. Forest Service

Watch: Officials provide updates on wildfires in northeastern Minnesota

There was an uptick in wildfire activity over the weekend in northeastern Minnesota. But overall progress toward containing the fires is allowing more Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness entry points to reopen this week.


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

The entry points on the western portion of the forest on the Kawishiwi and LaCroix Ranger districts will open for overnight use on Wednesday.


A wooden Smokey Bear sign stands under a flagpole.

Forest Service announces more campground and entry point reopenings

The U.S. Forest Service will reopen some Boundary Waters entry points for overnight permit use.


Dan Kraker | MPR News

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

Small business owners in northeastern Minnesota told their state legislators Friday that the wildfires that have been burning in and around the Boundary Waters for almost a month have had a “disastrous” impact on their bottom lines. One canoe outfitter says he lost 98 percent of his revenue to cancellations in July.


Chuck Olsen | WTIP

Northeast Minnesota wildfires causing disastrous economic impacts to tourism industry

Annie Baxter

David Schaper

Fire crews have reached about 60 percent containment on the wildfires burning in northeastern Minnesota and in Canada, though firefighters remain on alert for new lightning-caused ignitions.


A map shows regions of the BWCA reopening.

Live updates: Wildfires in Minnesota

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