REGIONAL- More than an inch of weekend rain helped slow the wildfires burning across northeastern Minnesota, but fire officials cautioned Monday that the added moisture was already disappearing as firefighters continued work across nearly 75,000 burned acres.
Fire Behavior Analyst Mike Ward said Monday morning that the moisture was “quickly drying up.” Winds on Sunday had already begun drying the surface layer of duff, particularly in sheltered areas that received less rain.
Even so, firefighters and road crews continued to make progress. All evacuation orders in St. Louis and Lake counties have been lifted, more than 1,600 of the roughly 2,000 campsites in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness are available, and crews are beginning to remove equipment from portions of the fire area.
The four fires included in the July Lightning Incident had burned a combined 74,990 acres as of Monday, including 66,097 acres in the United States and 8,895 acres in Canada. A total of 656 personnel remained assigned to the incident, down from nearly 1,000 earlier this month.
The Camp Fire, five miles north of Winton, remained at 4,357 acres and was 97 percent contained. Crews continued extinguishing heat along the southern edge of a spot fire east of the main burn area. Chipping along the Cloquet Line was expected to be completed this week.
The Sioux Fire, north of the Echo Trail and east of Jeanette Campground, was listed at 6,875 acres and 55 percent contained. Firefighters were mopping up hot spots north of the Echo Trail while working north along the fire’s western flank toward the Little Indian Sioux River. Crews were also beginning to remove equipment from the eastern side of the fire.
Most of the remaining work is concentrated on the much larger Bear Trap and Thumb fires, which together account for about 85 percent of the acreage in the July Lightning Incident.
The Bear Trap Fire had burned 38,505 acres on both sides of the international border, including 30,110 acres in the United States, and was 45 percent contained.
On the southeastern end of the fire, crews were looking for opportunities to establish fire lines between Gull and Boot lakes. Along the eastern side, firefighters were clearing portages and establishing containment lines from Papoose Lake toward Chippewa and Nikki lakes. Farther south, they planned to work directly along the fire’s edge between Wagosh and Gun lakes.
Other work included developing a helispot near Friday Bay and patrolling the fire’s northwestern tip to protect La Croix Cabin.
Meanwhile, the Thumb Fire has burned into the neighboring Wolfpack Fire. Officials are now managing the combined area under the Thumb Fire name.
That fire had burned 25,253 acres, including 24,755 acres in the United States, and was 44 percent contained. Crews were holding tactical burns completed along its western side and beginning to prepare excess equipment for removal.
Firefighters continued working directly along the northwestern edge, moving west from the Takuemich Lake area toward Gun Lake. Hoses and sprinklers have been installed on Coleman Island.
Work also continued along the Echo Trail, where logging and clearing operations are creating a shaded fuel break. As of Monday, about three-and-a-half miles remained to be logged, with the work expected to continue for several more days.
Masticators were following behind the logging operation in the area where the Sioux Fire crossed the road, while chippers were processing woody debris and county crews were grading portions of the Echo Trail within the fire area. Officials warned travelers to expect substantial delays.
Temporary flight restrictions remained in effect over the fire area.
The Superior National Forest was also continuing to manage the Little Knife Fire, about 45 miles northwest of Grand Marais. That fire remained at 4,815 acres and was 90 percent contained, with only four personnel working on the ground.