Blizzard warnings in Northwest Minnesota, winter weather advisories across the state

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

The National Park Service has shut down some campgrounds and closed popular trails on Isle Royale in Lake Superior after a forest fire started there on Saturday.

Smoke was spotted in the area of the island's Three Mile Campground on Saturday afternoon, according to the NPS. 

Firefighters responded to find it had already grown to a 5-acre fire, and they started evacuations of the Three Mile and Lane Cove campgrounds, as well as a number of trails where people had been hiking through the weekend. The fire doubled in size later Saturday, and was estimated at 11 acres on Sunday afternoon.

More firefighters arrived Sunday, and an air tanker from Minnesota dropped water on the fire to try an initial containment.

Two ferries, including the Voyageur II, based in Grand Portage, are providing transportation to visitors and personnel responding to the fire, now called the Mt. Franklin fire.

The Rock Harbor Lodge, Marina, and Trading Post remain open, as is the Stoll Trail to Scoville Point.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. 

Environmental News

Tim Nelson

Author

Smoke was spotted in the area of the island's Three Mile Campground on Saturday afternoon, according to the NPS. Firefighters responded to find it had already grown to a 5-acre fire.

Fire on Isle Royale prompts closures, trail evacuations

Go Deeper.

Like this?