Sounds like a rescue is going on in the BWCA for five stranded Girl Scouts, two struck by lightning. Prayers sent

Story link

Ditto on the prayers...

on knife lake

It really sucks that there are still on going storms right in the Knife Lake area.

Report on the news just now says they were not struck and are all ok and will continue their trip..
Great news

Tribune news release
Rescuers seek Girl Scouts hit by lightning in BWCA
At least 2 of the girls in the party of six suffered serious injuries from lightning strikes, authorities said.
By Liz Sawyer Star Tribune
July 26, 2019 — 10:39pm

10:36 Pm Mpls. Star Tribune
At least two girls suffered serious injuries from lightning strikes, authorities said. The party of six, including five girls and one guide, reportedly called for help from an island on Knife Lake, near the Canadian border.he St. Louis County Rescue Squad sent an eight-member ground crew to trek inside the chain of lakes and locate the group, said the rescue squad’s Rick Slatten by cell phone. Responders must navigate five portages to reach the area. At 10 p.m., Slatten said they had only traversed two.

A requested Army National Guard Blackhawk helicopter was not available Friday night, so emergency operators are working with Minnesota State Patrol Air support.

The girls are all in their late teens, ranging in age from 15 to 18 years old, Slatten said. Officials didn’t know where the party originated from.

Condition updates on the injured girls were unavailable late Friday night.

I just read this as well. Prayers go out to everyone involved and hopeful for a positive report in the morning.

Looks like rescue still in progress

Rescuers reach Girl Scouts hit by lightning in BWCA
The St. Louis County Rescue Squad reached the group and is bringing the nine people out, with all "awake, alert and able to move without assistance" after the lightning strike.
By Liz Sawyer Star Tribune
July 27, 2019 — 1:29am


An intensive search and rescue effort started Friday night reached a group of Girl Scouts struck by lightning during thunderstorms that rumbled across the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Responders reached the group and would be able to get all of them out, the rescue squad said in a statement early Saturday.

Map: Knife Lake in the BWCA

At least two girls suffered serious injuries from the lightning strikes, authorities said. After reporting “acute symptoms that have us concerned,” law enforcement officers said "all patients are awake, alert and able to move without assistance."

The party of nine, including a guide, reportedly called for help from an island on Knife Lake, near the Canadian border. Inital reports said it was a group of six

The St. Louis County Rescue Squad sent an eight-member ground crew to trek into the chain of lakes to find the group, rescue squad member Rick Slatten said by cellphone. To reach the area, the members had to navigate five portages.

"Search and Rescue is always able to use motors in the BWCA to affect an emergency rescue," the squad's statement said. "We transported canoes to the first portage by motorboat, then switched to paddle/portage mode."

Thanks for the update Pinetree. Much better info and definitely more accurate than what was on the air during the Ch 5 news last night.

A rep from St. Louis Co. Rescue Squad posted this message on SLCVRS Facebook page at about 4 this morning:

UPDATE: All patients and uninjured scouts arrived at Moose Landing by 0349. Rescue personnel are all accounted for and have returned safely to the Command Post. Official press releases will be handled through Lake County Sheriff's Office later today.

A huge thank you to all the rescue squad volunteers/personnel.

WOW!!!

Glad everyone is ok.

update

Glad everyone is okay, but interesting how different the story was first reported.

I am glad too that everyone is alright. I think the leader of this group should have field assessed any injuries and reported with a little more accuracy the nature of the situation. Maybe a training issue for him/her. Ground strikes are common but if we call SAR every time one occurs near a camp they will need to beef up their staff. I wonder who will pay for this? I vote for the Girl Scouts of America.

When an evacuation occurs is the camp picked up at the same time and taken out with the group?

Just a question and in no way trying to detract from the OP.

The latest update is that all girls and guides were checked by medical personnel early this morning. Two of the girls were taken to the hospital for additional tests and observation and were released this morning.

After receiving medical attention, the girls called home (one at a time) from our land line at base camp - no cell service at camp! Girls and parents were all in good spirits.

At this time all of the girls are back at the canoe base and resting.

Glad all involved are OK.

None were struck by lightning.

Here is the very latest...

Media had it all twisted last night. Here is the post from the local Girl Scout council.

BWCA Severe Weather Update: We want to give everyone an update on the situation with our Group in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

First, please be advised: No one in the group was struck by lightning, no one was ever in critical condition, the group was not lost as they were following a pre-planned route, and everyone is safe.

Earlier this evening, severe weather went through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area near Knife Lake in Lake County where a group of girls from Chicago IL was on a BWCA Trip. The lead guide called in the lightning strike, per protocol, informed authorities of their exact location per the planned route, and said “they believe that lightning struck the ground and they might have experienced ground current.”

Girl Scouts Lakes and Pines staff has been working with local authorities, and the group has been in constant contact with medical personnel the entire time.

Again, all nine people in the party are safe and, as of 11:08pm the EMT is with the group.

We will post new updates as they become available. If you have additional concerns, please direct them to Nancy McMullen, Director of Communications - 218-640-7039