Date(s): May 18, 2021

Contact(s): LaCroix Ranger District Fire Information: 218-349-2900

On May 17, a lighting started wildfire was detected on the LaCroix Ranger District, within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

The fire is located northwest of Bezhik Lake and west of Big Moose Lake within the Trout Lake unit of the BWCAW - T64N-R14W, Section 8. It is currently (as of evening of May 17) located away from any travel routes and lakes/rivers.

The fire is reported on the evening of May 18 at 950 acres in size. A flight on May 18 AM observed creeping and smoldering fire moving through the open pine understory and continued backing and flanking fire along the western and eastern edges. On May 18 PM, the fire started getting more active and has been pushing to the north. The fire has been very active May 18 PM.

The conditions are very dry in the BWCA. Some well needed rain is coming in this week, but be careful with your fires.

Map of location

Inciweb link

This message has had HTML content edited out of it.
BEZHIK FIRE UPDATE:
??The Bezhik Fire has been very active this afternoon with a south wind. It has made a big push to the north towards the Moose Loop Road south of the Echo Trail on the La Croix Ranger District.
?? We have been flying water dropping aircraft on the fire all afternoon.
?? The fire is currently estimated at 1,635 acres in size. We will continue to provide updates.
??: Bezhik wildfire by Tony Harding/USDA Forest Servi.

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[I copied this I believe this info is from last night!]

Date(s): May 19, 2021

Contact(s): LaCroix Ranger District Fire Information: 218-349-2900

Forest Roads 464 and 465 have been closed for public safety due to the proximity of the Bezhik Fire.

BWCAW Entry Points #8 Moose River S & #76 Big Moose Tr closed due to Bezhik Fire
Date(s): May 19, 2021

Contact(s): LaCroix Ranger District 218-666-0020

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness entry points #8 (Moose River South) and #76 (Big Moose Trail) are closed due to the Bezhik Fire. Contact the LaCroix Ranger District for alternatives if you hold an entry permit for those locations.

Bummer, especially for those with a permit. I hope it’s contained soon and that everyone is safe.

I’m glad to have gone in the area twice in the last couple years.

We have a permit for June 5th, hoping it is open again then and it doesn't effect any of the camp sites.

782 acres, 100% contained.

Inciweb link

I understand fighting the fire on private property but were they really fighting the fire inside the BWCA? I thought the FS had ended the fighting of fires in the BWCA to permit the natural cycle of fire. Naturally occurring Fire does more good than bad to the forest.

Tom

I agree, and I thought they let most burn as long as private property wasn't involved. you look at some of the places in the BWCA, and say to yourself, imagine if that started on fire. Too much fuel.

tumblehome: "I understand fighting the fire on private property but were they really fighting the fire inside the BWCA? I thought the FS had ended the fighting of fires in the BWCA to permit the natural cycle of fire. Naturally occurring Fire does more good than bad to the forest.


Tom"

They only let fires burn in the BWCA when certain parameters are met as far as moisture content of fuels, relative humidity, etc. Also, if the fire has the potential to spread outside of the BWCA, again they are going to suppress it. I'd guess that this spring it was too dry to let fires burn (until the weather changed). After the Pagami Creek disaster, they are extra cautious as well.

The let it burn policy faces sort of a catch-22. If it's dry enough that fires are going to spread a lot, they have to suppress them. So they really only let fires burn that are going to creep around and remain small. Which limits the amount of good that fire can do. Not that I see a solution to this problem.

tumblehome: "I understand fighting the fire on private property but were they really fighting the fire inside the BWCA? I thought the FS had ended the fighting of fires in the BWCA to permit the natural cycle of fire. Naturally occurring Fire does more good than bad to the forest.


Tom"

I find it odd that the Fire Management Plan for the Superior NF is not published on-line, many other USFS forests have their FMP available to the public on-line. That would answer a lot of these and others questions.

What Marsonite posted is correct in a nut shell.

Tom Roach is the Incident Commander of the fire. I have worked with him a few times in the past. He started his career of firefighting with the MN-DNR out of Bemidji, then was a smoke jumper out west for the USFS before transferring back to MN to the Superior NF.
Tom is a solid firefighter, with 25-30 years experience. I believe he is still a GS-06 or 07 "engine Captain" out of Laurentian RD. Probably one of the least paid firefighters managing fires of this size and magnitude.

Bezhik Fire Update (May 23, 2021)
Status: The wildfire is 100% contained. Over the past several days firefighters and aircraft have made very good progress working to secure the fire edge and cool down pockets of heat as necessary around the perimeter of the fire. Fire crews continued this mop up work on the ground yesterday. Fire activity remains minimal along the edge of the fire. Due to improved mapping by crews on the ground the size of the fire has been adjusted to 782 acres.

Planned Actions: Firefighters will check the perimeter of the fire area again today to seek out any pockets of heat and cool them down if found. Mop up work has been done around the north side of the fire working in along the edges to make sure that it is secure. While the perimeter of the fire has been worked by firefighters, interior pockets of fuel might still burn so smoke may be visible at times. A local Incident Commander and small crew will remain assigned to the fire with the local west zone fire organization to continue monitoring and patrols over the next several days.

Closures: At 9:00am on Monday, May 24, 2021, the Closure Order currently in place for Forest Road 464 (Moose Loop), Forest Road 465, BWCAW Entry Point #8 Moose River South, and BWCAW Entry Point #76 Big Moose Trail will be rescinded.

BEZHIK FIRE Fire UPDATE (5-24-21)
The wildfire is 100% contained. Fire crews remain on site to monitor the fire area and mop up hot spots. All roads and BWCAW entry points have reopened.