Northern Minnesota July lightning fires nearly 60 percent contained, crews watch for new starts

The U.S. Forest Service reported Friday that the wildfires have scorched nearly 73,000 acres in the U.S. and Canada.

The agency said more than 1,000 personnel are working on battling the fires, which are about 60 percent contained.

Watching for lightning

Storms that rolled through the area overnight brought lightning and pockets of heavy rain (up to 0.79 inches) to the western and northern parts of the fire, according to the Forest Service.

A cold front following the storms will bring in drier and cooler weather for the next few days, which authorities said should result in subdued fire activity.

Andy Pascarella with the U.S. Forest Service said in an update Friday morning that crews will be ready for initial attack on any new lightning strike fires that may have started near the Chub Fire, which is burning southwest of Crane Lake.

“[There was] some rain across the area over the last 24 hours, but a lot of lightning,” he said. “That rain was a little bit sparse in areas and heavier in other areas, so they'll be out there in case one of those fires gets going.”

Pascarella said crews are also standing by watching for any fires that may have started from lightning strikes in the vicinity of the Camp Fire, which is burning northeast of Ely. That fire is now 69 percent contained.

Status of fire containment efforts

U.S. Forest Service officials said Friday that the largest fire, the Bear Trap fire, is now 38 percent contained. It’s located south of Lac La Croix, about 20 miles north of Ely, and has burned nearly 38,000 acres in the U.S. and Canada.

Firefighters are working to build containment lines near Gull Lake, along the western edge of an outgrowth from the main fire.

The Little Knife Fire, which has burned nearly 5,000 acres in an area near the end of the Gunflint Trail, is now 70 percent contained, according to the Forest Service.

Firefighters are patrolling on the southwest portion of the fire, “using drones to find pockets of heat, and mopping up to secure the fire line,” while “crews on the northeast side of the fire are using natural features, such as lakes and streams, and improving portage trails for indirect containment lines.”

The improvements in fire suppression and containment efforts have allowed the Forest Service to open up more areas of the BWCAW to paddlers and to overnight camping.

As of Friday, several popular lakes near the end of the Gunflint trail opened up for day trips into the wilderness area, which is welcome news to the outfitters, resorts and other businesses that have been hurting since the fires closed the BWCA.

Economic impacts

Sen. Grant Hauschild, DFL-Hermantown, Rep. Roger Skraba, R-Ely, the Cook County Chamber of Commerce and others partners are gathering Friday to discuss the economic impact of wildfires on tourism and other industries on the Gunflint Trail in Grand Marais

Meanwhile, the advocacy group Friends of the Boundary Waters has announced its holding a bike ride Aug. 22 to support communities affected by wildfires burning in northeastern Minnesota. The route goes from Ely to Soudan and back, with long and short course options available.

The group said proceeds from the event will go to Ely-area nonprofits and the Mesabi Trail Association.

Air quality

The wildfires burning in northeastern Minnesota made the air smoky in recent weeks, but not Friday.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency forecasts moderate to good air quality across the state Friday.

But wildfire smoke from much farther away will make an impact in the state. The agency said smoke from fires across the Pacific Northwest will continue to affect southern and central Minnesota, where it expects air quality conditions will be "moderate."

The MPCA forecasts air quality in northern Minnesota, north of the low and trailing cold front, in the "green" or "good" zone Friday.

The agency said air quality in most of the state will be good over the weekend.

• Forest Service ends campfire ban in the Boundary Waters
• Officials ID Alaskan crew member who died while fighting Boundary Waters wildfires
• Crew member battling to contain northern Minnesota wildfires dies
• ‘Devastating blow’: Special session unlikely, but BWCA outfitters still plead for fire relief