Who makes the call on putting a fire ban into place...USFS or MN DNR or other? Is the link below the primary source of info on fire bans?

MN DNR Fire Danger

Min, Stat. Chapter 88, the Wildfire Act puts the DNR is in charge of fire restrictions.

That is the page I have always looked at for info.

Plander, the page you linked does not cover fire restrictions on public/federal land managed by the Superior NF

The MN DNR is the lead for fire restrictions on lands that are under its protection. Those lands are generally State, County, and Private lands.
The map shows fire restrictions in the arrow head, keep in mind that these restrictions are for private and state/non federal land within the boundaries of the Superior NF.

The Superior NF implements fire restrictions on lands under its protection as does the Chippewa NF.

USFS makes the call on fire restrictions in the BWCAW. I'd look here, but their web presence is anything but clearly organized.

Actually, I'd expect to hear it on bwca.com first...

Lots of discussion regarding fire bans from this link.

Last years fire ban

I always assumed Smokey Bear made the call.

Zulu: " I always assumed Smokey Bear made the call."

It is both of them Smokey and his brother Sparky Bear.

Hopefully some rainfall can materialize over the weekend (next chance) - otherwise I see a Ban coming very soon. ( Maybe even one before Fishing opener with the amount people in the BWCAW)
Much of N.MN is well below normal in the precip department for the year and rainfall in the last month is well behind. With warmer temps coming will also = lower relative humidities and stronger S winds. Again, without appreciable widespread rainfall in the next week I see a fire ban very likely.

And it starts-

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Duluth MN
318 AM CDT Wed May 12 2021

MNZ010>012-018>021-025-026-033>038-121700-
Koochiching-North St. Louis-Northern Cook and Lake-North Itasca-
Central St. Louis-Southern Lake-Southern Cook-North Cass-
South Itasca-South Cass-Crow Wing-Northern Aitkin-South Aitkin-
Carlton and South St. Louis-Pine-
Including the cities of International Falls, Ely, Isabella,
Bigfork, Hibbing, Two Harbors, Silver Bay, Grand Marais, Walker,
Grand Rapids, Pine River, Brainerd, Hill City, Aitkin, Duluth,
Pine City, and Hinckley
318 AM CDT Wed May 12 2021

...NEAR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS DUE TO LOW RELATIVE
HUMIDITY FOR NORTHEAST MINNESOTA ON WEDNESDAY...

Relative humidity will range from 16-23 percent across northeast
Minnesota on Wednesday away from Lake Superior with southwest
winds around 5 to 10 mph. When combined with dry fuels, near
critical fire weather conditions are possible. Check restrictions
and the fire danger before burning.

$$

Britt

My sister crapped out yesterday on a search for morels west of Ely - ground is too dry.

Jeff, how would you know my relatives humidity? Haha!
Good to know about the fire danger. We’ve had burning restrictions most of the spring. Will be up most of the next couple weeks to resupply and support housty9 on his hiking the Kek and border route trails. I thought we were supposed to be wet.

No fire ban mentioned as of this morning at 11 am.

Just got a bear report for Snowbank and Moose but no mention of fire ban.

I usually get notice at least a week ahead of time when they are thinking there might be one coming up.