Thunderstorms now heading through eastern part of 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

A wildfire in northern Minnesota near Ely that has burned an estimated 33 acres likely originated from chainsaw work done by U.S. Forest Service crews. 

The Birch Bay Fire started on June 1 eight miles northwest of Ely and was 100 percent contained as of Saturday. 

A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources fire investigator determined the fire was likely caused by “chainsaw operations” during prescribed burn preparation work, which are designed to burn off brush and other fuel to help prevent bigger wildfires, according to a U.S. Agriculture Department news release.

Chainsaws can easily ignite dry grass, needles or woody debris via contact with their hot engines, scorching exhaust or sparks.

“We are committed to transparency regarding the findings of this investigation and to reviewing the incident to identify lessons learned that can help inform future operations,” said Superior National Forest acting forest supervisor Drew Stroberg.

Superior National Forest spokesperson Tim Engrav said there’s a boundary established around a prescribed fire unit and crews typically must do preparation work with chainsaws before a prescribed burn.

“Typical preparation work would be to cut those trees, make sure that those lines are clear not only for holding the fire, but also for safety for firefighters to allow them to be able to get in and out during the prescribed fire operations,” he said.

The crews were working within the Geraldine Prescribed Fire project area as part of a larger Superior National Forest effort to reduce hazardous wildfire fuels and improve forest resilience.

No other prescribed burns were underway at the time the Birch Bay Fire began. Engrav said in the coming weeks, crews are expected to clean up the area, remove water hoses and pumps and see what can be rehabilitated.

“There is work that's done to kind of rehabilitate those areas if any dirt was dug up, to kind of pull that all back over,” he said. “If there's any slopes involved, to get what we call water bars in there, so when rain comes it doesn't wash all the soil away.”

Superior National Forest officials have temporarily banned campfires, including stoves and grills fueled by wood or charcoal, in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness until June 30 as a precautionary measure to prevent more fires erupting during the current dry conditions. Gas and propane cook stoves are still permitted.

The Forest Service on Saturday afternoon reported two new wildfires within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. 

One of them is a one-acre fire about 20 miles east of Crane Lake between Tiger Bay and Boulder Bay. The other is a five-acre fire east of East Loon Bay on Loon Lake.

Both were near two to four campsites. Engrav said firefighters were able to reduce both and will continue to work on them through Sunday and the rest of the week.

“They'll be out there as long as needed to work on containment for each of those fires,” he said.

Engrav added the public is advised to steer clear of the fire areas and cannot fly drones over wildfires or in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. There are no area closures, but some of the campsites nearby may be temporarily closed.

Disasters

Minnesota News

Greater Minnesota

NewsPartners

Homepage

Minnesota Wildfires

Nicole Ki

Author

A wildfire that has burned an estimated 33 acres near Ely was believed to be caused by U.S. Forest Service crews conducting prescribed burn preparation work to improve forest health and resilience.

Minnesota investigators say chainsaw likely sparked Birch Bay Fire

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox