Evacuation orders expanded for wildfire burning northeast of Ely

A rapidly expanding wildfire burning northeast of Ely led to wider evacuation orders on Tuesday morning.

The U.S. Forest Service said the Camp Fire spread more than 4 miles in a half-day amid Monday’s extremely hot and dry conditions. Tuesday was expected to be “another active fire day with gusty winds and heavy smoke.”

Authorities use a “Ready, Set, Go” protocol for evacuations. On Tuesday morning, “Go” evacuation orders for that fire were expanded to include the length of Fernberg Road east of Ely and Winton — an area with many homes, cabins, camps and lodges.

It’s a major access point for the now-closed Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness — and it’s the only road in or out of that area, raising concerns about any wildfire in the vicinity.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said it was going door-to-door to notify people in the evacuation zone. A temporary evacuation point was being set up at the municipal building in Babbitt.

Later Tuesday morning, areas between Fall and Cedar lakes were also put into “Go” status.

“Ready” and “Set” notices were in place around the evacuation zone and also to the northwest for other fires burning along the Echo Trail and near Crane Lake.

A “Ready” status alert remained in effect in Cook County at the end of the Gunflint Trail amid concerns about a fire in Canada that has the potential to cross the border.

More than a dozen fires are burning in and near the BWCA. The entire wilderness is temporarily closed to visitors amid concerns that those fires could continue to spread quickly amid unusually hot, dry weather.

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