Fires force some nonprofit groups in and near Boundary Waters to evacuate
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
Two nonprofit groups have had their plans cut short due to the wildfires near the Boundary Waters.
The Tofte Lake Center was evacuated Tuesday morning because of an encroaching wildfire. According to organizers, the art center is located about 8 miles from the Camp Fire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
The center's founder and executive director, Liz Engelman, said all 11 people were evacuated without incident.
"From the other side of the lake, you could see clouds of smoke, dark orange black clouds kind of hovering,” she said. “It was a windy night last night, so the wind was blowing them, and so it was quite a scene visually."
Turn Up Your Support
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.
Engelman says this is the first time the Tofte Lake Center has ever been evacuated. It's located about 15 miles northeast of Ely.
Also on Tuesday morning, wildfires sent about 30 middle schoolers on a canoe adventure home early.
Project Success is a youth organization based out of Minneapolis that helps students build life skills. The last of their five trips to the BWCA this summer was set to conclude later Tuesday. But guides were told to return to camp early Monday, said Laura Garcia, senior director of programs.
"Students and our leaders were able to get out of the heat, get back to camp, and then evacuate the the camp this morning at about 9:30,” she said.
While the students are physically unharmed, Garcia said staff are making sure to talk with students who are processing the emergency to help them feel safe emotionally.
