THE BOUNDARY WATERS— A lightning strike fire continues to burn slowly in remote and difficult-to-access terrain near the Horse River, north of Ely, as fire officials try to assess how and when to address the blaze.
According to a Forest Service press statement issued Tuesday, eight firefighters are currently on the scene of the fire, assessing strategies for containing the fire within natural features on the landscape. Currently, containment is at zero percent.
Naturally-caused fires within the wilderness are monitored and are sometimes allowed to burn within defined parameters when conditions are appropriate. While the region is dry, the recent green-up and lighter winds, have kept the fire from spreading as quickly as the Camp House and Jenkins Creek fires earlier in the month. Those fires came ahead of green-up and were fanned by gusty winds and low humidity. Combined, the two fires consumed nearly 30,000 acres in a matter of days.
The Horse River Fire, as the latest blaze is known, was first reported by aircraft on May 22 and was initially estimated at 20 acres. It’s currently estimated at nine acres and is burning slowly in mixed boreal forest, including conifers and hardwoods like birch and aspen. Fire officials believe the fire started on a ridge when a tree was struck by lightning.
While the area has limited blowdown, ground access is reported to be extremely poor and the area is nowhere near any existing paddle routes.
Closures to date have been limited to the Winter Route Trail, a mushing trail between Jackfish Bay and Lower Basswood Falls. The Basswood River paddle route and campsites remain open for now, as is the Horse River paddle route.
As of Wednesday this week, a National Incident Management Organization was set to take command of the Horse River and Jenkins Creek fires.
The slow nature of the Horse River Fire could change depending on conditions. As of Wednesday, the current extended forecast shows little to no chance of measurable rainfall until Tuesday, June 3.