‘Unhealthy’ air quality expected in eastern Minnesota through Monday afternoon due to wildfire smoke

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As firefighters continue to make progress containing several large wildfires burning in and around the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, the U.S. Forest Service is reopening additional areas of the wilderness to canoeists and boaters.

Several popular lakes will be open for day use beginning Friday, July 31, including Moose Lake and the Number Chain of Lakes near Ely, Alice, Insula and Snowbank Lakes, and Saganaga and Seagull Lakes at the end of the Gunflint Trail.

That follows a move to reopen about 40 percent of the wilderness to overnight camping in the eastern and central portions of the Boundary Waters on July 30.

The Forest Service says the additional reopenings “follow continued successful wildfire suppression and recent variable precipitation that has helped moderate wildfire activity in parts of the BWCAW.”

The agency said it expects to announce additional reopening updates later this week, and emphasized that protecting the public and firefighters remains the Forest Service’s highest priority.

Several areas remain closed to all travel in the wilderness, concentrated mainly in the area north and west of Ely, north of the Echo Trail to the Canadian border. That’s the area where most of the major wildfires are continuing to burn.

The other major closure area is due to the Little Knife Fire, which burned across the Canadian border about eight miles west of the end of the Gunflint Trail.

About 1,200 firefighters continue to battle the blazes, which were started by multiple lightning strikes about a month ago. The fires were small and largely contained until July 13, when extremely hot temperatures and driving winds fanned the flames and caused the fires to spread several miles in a day. The entire Boundary Waters was closed the following day.

Since then, firefighters have made steady progress slowing the fires, aided by cooler temperatures and consistent rainfall. The fires are now more than 50 percent contained.

The Superior National Forest is also reopening several recreation areas on July 31 outside the Boundary Waters, including biking, camping and hiking sites in the Kawishiwi and LaCroix Ranger Districts.

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Dan Kraker

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Several popular lakes in the Boundary Waters will reopen to day use beginning July 31, including Moose Lake and the Number Chain of lakes near Ely, and Saganaga and Seagull Lakes at the end of the Gunflint Trail.

Dan Kraker | MPR News

A map shows regions of the BWCA reopening.

Forest Service to open more of the Boundary Waters to canoeing as wildfire concerns ease

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