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A wildfire near Burntside Lake about eight miles northwest of Ely had burned about 25 acres as of Monday evening and forced the evacuation of nine seasonal homes and cabins. 

The Birch Bay Fire was detected northwest of the North Arm of Burntside Lake, a large, popular lake dotted with cabins and summer camps adjacent to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. 

As of Monday evening, winds were light and blowing away from populated areas and into the Boundary Waters. Silica and Ole lakes are the nearest to the fire in the wilderness area, according to the Superior National Forest. 

St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay said nothing else was in danger, including Ely, as of 6 p.m. Monday. However, officials put the area of Lindskog and the southern-most part of North Arm Road — about a quarter-mile from the fire — under evacuation order.

“There's a lot of resources on scene, and at this time, people are fairly optimistic. But obviously, you know, those things can change quickly,” Ramsay added. 

Camp Widjiwagan and Camp Du Nord, two popular YMCA camps located along the North Arm of Burntside Lake, are not in danger, Ramsay said. 

“Super scooper” water delivery aircraft that the U.S. Forest Service had pre-positioned in Duluth

scooped water out of Burntside Lake to help slow the blaze. 

Firefighting crews from federal, state and local agencies had deployed to an area on the North Arm Road and Lindskog Road areas to protect homes and cabins from the fire. 

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Dan Kraker

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The Birch Bay Fire has burned about 25 acres near the North Arm of Burntside Lake, about eight miles outside Ely. Nine cabins have been evacuated. 

A wide shot of a forest with a plume of gray smoke rising in the center.

Wildfire burning near Burntside Lake outside Ely forces evacuations

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