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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum

Trip Planning Forum

Fireban

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Date/Time: 06/23/2025 05:33PM

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Fireban

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Previous Messages:
Author	Message Text
OgimaaBines	05/12/2025 10:30PM Ely is near the lower limit of rainfall thus far this year.
Someday	05/12/2025 10:27PM Red flag warning for most MN counties just don’t have a fire please.
Someday	05/12/2025 10:25PM Speckled: "DTrain: "I'd be surprised if we were on the brink of a fire ban. Last week it felt like it was gloomy and rainy in Ely for much of the week. Monday especially had a lot of rain. Rainy river and Kawishiwi falls gauges are way up." I agree - if you've been out in the woods up here - it's wet. There's still snow in the woods and we had a bunch of rain recently. I can't imagine a fire ban right now." Very strange response looking at the current situation…
Paddle buddy	05/11/2025 10:42PM Kawishiwi District
OgimaaBines	05/11/2025 10:17PM Paddle buddy: "I just got back and it is DRY!! Had a few fires to cook and everything burned. I stopped having fires after the second night because it got scary how easily an ember can just set the whole forest off. Never in my 12 years up there was I worried about being the Ham lake guy until now and I've been having fires since I was 8. Hopefully everyone takes caution io there." What area were you at?
Paddle buddy	05/11/2025 09:36PM I just got back and it is DRY!! Had a few fires to cook and everything burned. I stopped having fires after the second night because it got scary how easily an ember can just set the whole forest off. Never in my 12 years up there was I worried about being the Ham lake guy until now and I've been having fires since I was 8. Hopefully everyone takes caution io there.
Paddle buddy	05/11/2025 09:36PM I just got back and it is DRY!! Had a few fires to cook and everything burned. I stopped having fires after the second night because it got scary how easily an ember can just set the whole forest off. Never in my 12 years up there was I worried about being the Ham lake guy until now and I've been having fires since I was 8. Hopefully everyone takes caution io there.
DTrain	05/08/2025 03:47PM The National Weather Service has added a fire weather watch for Sunday in the Ely area. It's going to be breezy and 84!? degrees out. Maybe we are closer to a fire ban than I realized.
Ryeman	05/08/2025 02:50PM Not sure about being on the brink, but the Fire Danger Level is rated high. and the drought monitoring looks good MN DNR Fire Rating MN Drought Monitor
LindenTree	05/08/2025 08:51AM Speckled: I'll be in the neighborhood Saturday. I'll be in a Royalex Bell Northwind with a BWCA.com sticker, feel free to say hi if you see us. Will be just out for the day." I'm likely leaving Friday, this was my test tendinitis trip. Still have it some pain, so kinda boring sitting around all day without much paddling. Bring a small saw if you com in here. There are two small firs over the portage that would be easier to cut, than push through. I'm staying at the first site north of the portage on the east side. I'm the only one here.
tumblehome	05/08/2025 08:51AM LindenTree: "I'm up here now camped on the South Kawashiwi River. I did 30 years in wildland firefighting, we will not have any fire restrictions for at least two weeks or more. Remember how dry it was in the spring of 23? Fire bans were not implemented until the end of June that year. Granted too late IMHO." I hope you’re right. I’m not wishing for one by any means. Fire danger is high in the arrowhead and very high west of there. Hot dry forecast ahead. With all the spruce bud worm affected balsams, there is a lot of fuels on the woods. Tom
Speckled	05/08/2025 08:29AM LindenTree: "I'm up here now camped on the South Kawashiwi River. I did 30 years in wildland firefighting, we will not have any fire restrictions for at least two weeks or more. Remember how dry it was in the spring of 23? Fire bans were not implemented until the end of June that year. Granted too late IMHO." I'll be in the neighborhood Saturday. I'll be in a Royalex Bell Northwind with a BWCA.com sticker, feel free to say hi if you see us. Will be just out for the day.
LindenTree	05/07/2025 04:48PM I'm up here now camped on the South Kawashiwi River. I did 30 years in wildland firefighting, we will not have any fire restrictions for at least two weeks or more. Remember how dry it was in the spring of 23? Fire bans were not implemented until the end of June that year. Granted too late IMHO.
Speckled	05/07/2025 03:12PM DTrain: "I'd be surprised if we were on the brink of a fire ban. Last week it felt like it was gloomy and rainy in Ely for much of the week. Monday especially had a lot of rain. Rainy river and Kawishiwi falls gauges are way up." I agree - if you've been out in the woods up here - it's wet. There's still snow in the woods and we had a bunch of rain recently. I can't imagine a fire ban right now.
tumblehome	05/07/2025 01:17PM We are probably a week away from a fire ban. Based on the forecast and we are still waiting for the spring green up. If wet weather makes its way into the forecast by early next week I feel we could avert one. The forest is ripe for fire right now. Tom
DTrain	05/07/2025 08:45AM I'd be surprised if we were on the brink of a fire ban. Last week it felt like it was gloomy and rainy in Ely for much of the week. Monday especially had a lot of rain. Rainy river and Kawishiwi falls gauges are way up.
boonie	05/07/2025 07:29AM I look at it like this- Not only do I not want to break any rules, I don't want to endanger myself and others, so be prepared. To cook, I'll need a pressurized gas stove with a shutoff valve - not a twig burner, alcohol stove, etc. A ban may be instituted while I'm enroute or already in the BW, and once notified, I must comply. I plan accordingly and take a stove and adequate fuel. Then I have a solution with options and not a problem without solutions. Just remember, even if there isn't a fire ban, there may be times and situations where it's not safe to have one. Make sure your fire is thoroughly out, stirred, no embers, and cold to the touch. If there are actual fires, you may have to adjust your plans. I had to change my EP the year of the Pagami fire and have also had to alter routes due to closed areas. Enjoy your trip.
YaMarVa	05/06/2025 04:06PM Paddle buddy: "Almost sounds like we are at the brink of a fire ban..." Where are you hearing this?
Michwall2	05/06/2025 03:42PM The rules in place at the time you receive your permit inform your entire trip unless notified while in the BW. A fire ban will be noted on your entry permit at the time you pick it up. FS Rangers can also alert you to placement or cancellation of a fire ban if you are checked for a permit while in the BW. They will usually note the fire ban on your permit also. If a fellow paddler alerts you to a fire ban, it would be good form to follow the ban even though an "official" has not placed it on your permit.
Paddle buddy	05/06/2025 03:15PM Almost sounds like we are at the brink of a fire ban, any thoughts from people who are educated about this kind of thing? How long before they declare one in these kinds of conditions? Also, I leave in two days, how would I know we are in a fire ban if I'm already pit there disconnected from society? I'm not trying to intentionally break and rules.