Hazardous air quality forecast for much of Minnesota Thursday as fires grow

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New maps detailing the perimeters of the wildfires in northeastern Minnesota show that the Bear Trap Fire burning in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness northwest of Ely has grown significantly Thursday and now scorched more than 34,000 acres.

The new mapping also shows the fire has moved close to a major road — Echo Trail — raising concerns that it could soon move closer to populated areas. 

At the same time, officials say dense smoke, lighter winds and increased humidity have helped to moderate the spread of several other major wildfires burning in and near the BWCA. 

Information gathered by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources crews flying over the fires overnight “showed that the Bear Trap [Fire] extended much further south to about a mile, mile and a half north of the Echo Trail,” said St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay.

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The Echo Trail is a major road between Ely and the Crane Lake Area that provides access to several popular Boundary Waters entry points.

“The Echo Trail is a little bit of a benchmark for us on level of concern,” Ramsay said. “When it gets to that point or crosses the Echo Trail, you get into a lot more resorts, seasonal homes, some year-round homes. So that is an area that we're really watching closely.”

The wind switched on Thursday and is now blowing north, “so it gives a little reprieve. Now that's not to say these fires still don't move opposite of the wind direction, especially given all the fuels,” Ramsay said.

No changes have been made to the “ready-set-go” evacuation areas that have been established around Ely along the Fernberg Corridor that runs northeast out of Ely and the Echo Trail.

But the thick wildfire smoke that is causing dangerous air quality is also making it difficult for the Forest Service to fly aircraft to fight the blazes and to get updated estimates of the fire perimeters.

“Aircraft have been challenged with conducting air operations and reconnaissance missions for updated acres and areas of fire progression,” the agency said.

Forest officials expect another active fire day as the forest continues to dry. But some chances of rain and more moderate conditions should allow fire crews to “reengage with full suppression efforts,” the agency said. 

Ramsay said there are a significant number of firefighters working along the Echo Trail.

Aircraft will also look for brief windows to fly to gather intel on the fires and work to suppress them.

The 15 active wildfires have now burned an estimated total of about 70,000 acres, or close to 110 square miles. Three are burning within the Boundary Waters wilderness.

Ramsay said many cabins and homes along the Echo Trail corridor are only accessible by water. He said emergency officials are working to determine how long it would take to notify those property owners if an evacuation order were put in place.

“A lot of these lakes have a significant amount of water access-only cabins,” Ramsay said. “And so that's what we're going to be doing today, is figuring out if [the Bear Trap Fire] does move south, how much time do we have to figure out? Can we do the notifications and keep people safe?”

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Dan Kraker

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One major wildfire has moved closer to the Echo Trail and could threaten some resorts, cabins and year-round homes if it moves past the road, St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay said.

Bear Trap Fire near BWCA grows much bigger but firefighting conditions improve, officials say

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