Minnesota Wildfires

Crosby Fire nears containment on North Shore; section of Superior Hiking Trail set to reopen

A firefighter stands in the woods, a fire burns just up the hill.
A firefighter watches as the Crosby Fire burns late last week on Minnesota's North Shore. Officials determined the cause of the fire to be a lightning strike.
Courtesy of Minnesota Ingeragency Fire Center

As crews make progress on containing a wildfire burning along Minnesota’s North Shore, a section of the Superior Hiking Trail temporarily closed due to that fire is set to reopen Thursday.

In an update Wednesday afternoon, the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center said the Crosby Fire in George H. Crosby Manitou State Park is now 95 percent contained. It had not grown over the previous day.

“Firefighters continue work along the containment line to mop up areas of heat within the fire area. This work and favorable weather has held the fire in place at 300 acres,” the Interagency Fire Center reported.

Authorities said the fire — first sighted a week ago on a remote ridge within the state park — was caused by lightning.

While the state park has remained open, the fire forced the temporary closure of the segment of the Superior Hiking Trail that passes through the park.

With the progress made by firefighting crews, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said the trail segment will reopen at 8 a.m. Thursday.

“Out of an abundance of caution, hikers must stay on the trail,” the DNR reported Wednesday. “Crews are still working in the area. Many nearby trees are fire-weakened, which poses a falling danger. You’ll also likely see the ashes of the fire that burned up to and across the trail, and may see or smell smoke in the area.”

The DNR said the presence of lingering smoke is not a cause for alarm, and that the area continues to be monitored by firefighters.