JULY 9, 2021 - Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness closures are now in effect due to the Delta Fire. This includes entry points: #56-Kekekabic Trail East and #74-Kekekabic Trail West/Snowbank. And the following lakes, campsites, and portages: Parent, Disappointment, Jitterbug, Ahsub, Becoosin, Benezie, Adventure, Rifle, Bridge, Fire, Drag Primitive Management Area.

Map by USDA Forest Service.

We go in at N Kawishiwi R on Sunday. Will probably be leaving all campfire related tools at home. Restrictions can't be too far off.

And... just read this on the USFS-SNF Facebook page, in response to a question regarding any sort of decision on a fire ban:

"We are working on fire restrictions for the forest and will be announcing them very very shortly."

schweady: "We go in at N Kawishiwi R on Sunday. Will probably be leaving all campfire related tools at home. Restrictions can't be too far off.
"

Posted in another thread.

Just a hunch but I think we will be seeing campfire restrictions on the Superior NF and BWCA soon. Why?

1,) Nationally we are at a PL/Planning Level 4 out of a maximum of 5 for fire activity, 10,000 firefighters are comitted to incidents. If one gets going good in the Superior NF getting resources is going to be tough.

2,) There are 4 ongoing fires in the Superior NF now, 2 in the BW and 2 outside the BW.

3,) Current drought conditions are inching upward with little or no precip forcasted for the next 2 weeks.

Where's the fire? I see the closure area, but how much/where is the burn?

newguy: "Where's the fire? I see the closure area, but how much/where is the burn?"

Here you go newguy, there are 4 fires. Scroll around in this link and you will find out more info.

Fires on the Superior NF

I am liking the new alerts be posted on the forum. Thank you.

As far as the newest closure, this is going to wreck a lot of travel plans. As far as fire restrictions, absolutely going to happen! Little to no rain in the coming days and more heat on the way. All we need now is a hot windy day and wham!

Tom

This might be a good time to emphasize the extent of the spruce budworm affect on the forest. Balsam trees (Think Christmas trees) are dying off due to this native worm that eats the new bud of spruce trees. They have been moving through MN for decades. I live on 25 acres north of Duluth and half of my forest is balsam. I have lost thousands of trees. It's part of nature and I get to see how the forest will change.

With that. The budworm outbreak is wide spread and you can see it in WI, MI, and MN. Look for tall, pointed conifers that are brown or gold at their crowns with little to no needles on the trees. It is very evident now that the forest is green but these trees are brown. After a few years of this happening to the tree, it dies. They are explosive when burned. One of the fires mentions the budworm killed trees as fueling the fire.

If you are heading up to northern MN, or the BWCA, you will see the trees easily. It's nature's way of thinning the forest.
Tom

tumblehome: "I am liking the new alerts be posted on the forum. Thank you.


As far as the newest closure, this is going to wreck a lot of travel plans. As far as fire restrictions, absolutely going to happen! Little to no rain in the coming days and more heat on the way. All we need now is a hot windy day and wham!


Tom"

I thought the same... just losing the Disappointment Route is going to put a lot of stress in other potential directions.

adam: " JULY 9, 2021 - Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness closures are now in effect due to the Delta Fire. This includes entry points: #56-Kekekabic Trail East and #74-Kekekabic Trail West/Snowbank. And the following lakes, campsites, and portages: Parent, Disappointment, Jitterbug, Ahsub, Becoosin, Benezie, Adventure, Rifle, Bridge, Fire, Drag Primitive Management Area.

Map by USDA Forest Service.


"

Just paddled through Kek to Snowbank last week! I'm thankful the route was open then.

tumblehome: "…… ……“

My route last week covered 85 miles and I pretty much saw this same brown tinge everywhere I went.

As others have stated this closure will certainly change the routes of many permit holders. How have the SNF officials handled post fire re-opening in past years? If things have burned do they keep the route closed for the season? Does the FS have to assess the portages before reopening or are they simply keeping people out of the operations area. Obviously nobody can predict how this will play out, but I have a snowbank entry permit in early August and am trying to be realistic about how our current route may not be feasible. Looking at an even darker future, what happens if they close snowbank as an entry point if the wether trends farther toward red flag conditions? I’m assuming it’s just bad luck and you try again in the future….

PNWTreeOctopus: "As others have stated this closure will certainly change the routes of many permit holders. How have the SNF officials handled post fire re-opening in past years? If things have burned do they keep the route closed for the season? Does the FS have to assess the portages before reopening or are they simply keeping people out of the operations area. ."

If the fire is severe and burns out portges and campsites, the FS will keep the area closed until they assess the condition of the campsites and clear portages. Yes, in theory, a severely burned area could be closed for months. But it's too early to worry about that. The bad fires we've had in the past, Ham,Pagami, and Cavity Lake fire were so severe in part due to wind.

Without the strong winds, fire don't move too fast. These fires might turn out to be nothing unless we get the wind, then, well.... Not good.

Tom

PNWTreeOctopus: "As others have stated this closure will certainly change the routes of many permit holders. How have the SNF officials handled post fire re-opening in past years? If things have burned do they keep the route closed for the season? Does the FS have to assess the portages before reopening or are they simply keeping people out of the operations area. Obviously nobody can predict how this will play out, but I have a snowbank entry permit in early August and am trying to be realistic about how our current route may not be feasible. Looking at an even darker future, what happens if they close snowbank as an entry point if the wether trends farther toward red flag conditions? I’m assuming it’s just bad luck and you try again in the future…."

If the fire doesn't actually burn over portages and campsites, they will open an area back up fairly quickly....as in as soon as the fire reaches 100% containment. If the fire did burn an area over, it will stay closed for some time as they will have to go in and deal with hazard trees and the like.

I would guess that if the weather trends hot and dry with red flag conditions going into August we are going to be facing a closure of the whole BWCA. On the other hand, we could get a pattern shift in the weather that no one saw coming and dump 4" of rain on the whole area and end the fire danger right there. No one really knows what the weather is going to do.

Here’s the view from my cabin today. We’re located about 7 miles west of the fire’s current location. The haze is thick and it smells like a campfire.

Tony

I'll be really bummed if the Delta, Quartz, Benezie lake area burns. I've been wanting to explore that route for years.

Stumpy: "I'll be really bummed if the Delta, Quartz, Benezie lake area burns. I've been wanting to explore that route for years."

I was in the Pagami lake burn area twice the year after it burnt.

It was very interesting one sees the area very differently then when it is covered with brush and trees.

I think Delta lake is a lost cause. Not sure about the others you mentioned.

Burning restrictions expand in northern Minnesota
To help ensure public safety and protect natural resources, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is activating additional burning restrictions beginning 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, July 13 for the eastern portion of Roseau County and all of Beltrami, Cook, Koochiching, Lake, Lake of the Woods, and St. Louis counties, within state jurisdiction.

Burning restrictions remain in effect for Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena counties.

In the areas affected by the restrictions:

No campfires are allowed for dispersed, remote, or backcountry camping on all lands;
Campfires are allowed only in an established fire ring associated with a home, cabin, campground, or resort;
No fireworks may be ignited on any public or private land outside city limits (check with your municipality for any restrictions within city limits); and
Burning permits will not be issued for brush or yard waste, nor will existing permits be activated.
The burning restrictions will remain in effect until terminated by the DNR commissioner when weather and environmental conditions indicate a significant reduction in fire danger. Tribal nations regulate open burning for their communities.

The burning restrictions mean campfires are not allowed for dispersed campers at 40 state forests, and backcountry campfires are not allowed at 26 state parks and recreation areas – even if the backcountry campsite has a fire ring. Camping stoves are permitted. Listing of state forests and state parks under burning restrictions.

Linda Gormanson, burning permit coordinator, said the ongoing drought has created perilous midsummer conditions for wildfires. “The nearly 1,500 wildfires that have occurred in Minnesota since March are more than we typically see in an entire year,” Gormanson said. “We want people to keep recreating and enjoying the outdoors, but in ways that reduce the risk of igniting a wildfire.”

To date, wildfires have burned 34,106 acres in Minnesota.

Check the DNR statewide fire danger and burning restrictions map and follow the fire prevention tips above. People who spot a wildfire should call 911.

Visit the DNR wildland fire information webpage for more information on current restrictions.