**** This is a general discussion of the ongoing fires in the BWCA and surrounding Superior National Forest Scroll down for updates and information ****

Additional UPDATE: 2 other fires in reply have been detected.

Likely due to recent storm and lightning, four wildfires have been reported on the Superior National Forest, including three inside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The Camp Fire, located about 8 miles north to northeast of the Cloquet Line near Ely, is outside the BWCAW and is estimated at 1 to 2 acres with creeping ground fire activity.

Within the BWCAW, three small fires have been reported. The Bear Trap Fire is near the Bear Trap River north of Sunday Lake and is estimated at 0.10 acre from a single tree strike. The Thumb Fire, near Thumb Lake and Contentment Lake, is also estimated at 0.10 acre from a single tree strike. The Section 3 Pond Fire is about one acre and is located on Section Pond, just south of the Canadian border.

Firefighting resources are assessing suppression options, and more updates are expected as information becomes available. The public is asked to stay out of the affected areas for their safety and for firefighter safety. Drones are not allowed near fire areas and are illegal in federally designated wilderness areas.

Inciweb Monitoring Link

An additional fire was reported - Newton Lake Fire is currently less than 1 acre.

I am guessing the current weather after last nights rain will help, there is most likely no available air resources other than the FS local Beavers due to the western fires.

LindenTree: "I am guessing the current weather after last nights rain will help, there is most likely no available air resources other than the FS local Beavers due to the western fires."

Linden - anytime there is a fire I watch for your comments since your background and connections seem to keep you well-informed. Know that the information you share is appreciated!

That said, how does the current weather help? Is it just a matter of the temp being slightly lower? I would have thought the dry forecast for the next week would be problematic, so I'm slightly more optimistic that your comment seems somewhat positive. Four fires within the wilderness seemed alarming to me this morning, even if they aren't that big at this time!

eagle98mn:
Linden - anytime there is a fire I watch for your comments since your background and connections seem to keep you well-informed. Know that the information you share is appreciated!


That said, how does the current weather help? Is it just a matter of the temp being slightly lower? I would have thought the dry forecast for the next week would be problematic, so I'm slightly more optimistic that your comment seems somewhat positive. Four fires within the wilderness seemed alarming to me this morning, even if they aren't that big at this time!"

I had expected that the BWCA got the rain that we received in Duluth last night, (.25 inches) after looking I see most areas near the BW got only .05 inches at most so that is not very helpful, however todays cloudy weather will help. If they can keep the fires small the first day, it greatly increases their chances that they will stay small. However the forecast after today is not a good long term forecast for keeping fires small with the next chance for precip being 7/18. It is a good sign that after a day or two the fires are still no bigger than 1 acre. I consider the Boreal/Tiaga Forest biome to be a Go-No-Go . It either burns or it is too wet to burn, there is hardly any in between, these lightning fires are right in that small window too wet to rock and roll, but too dry to self extinguish.

What do I consider a small fire? It all depends on whether the fuel is grass or timber, I consider timber fires small if they are in the 30 acre size.

Having said this, I was the wildland fuel specialist for five National Wildlife Refuges in northern MN before I retired. The Superior NF needs to quit suppressing every lightning caused fire or they will have another Ham and Alpine Lake fire on their hands.

Kawishiwi water flow right now is 40% of normal for this date.

Pinetree: "Kawishiwi water flow right now is 40% of normal for this date."

Sounds like they just spotted two more fires, one south of Lake Jeanette.

Yes, here is the reports from FS:

Two additional fires have been reported by aerial detection this afternoon (7/8/2026)
The Echo 2 Fire is located off the Echo Rapids Road, north of Echo Lake in the Superior National Forest. The fire is currently 0.25-acre.

The Fools Gold Fire is located west of Norway Road and south of Lake Jeanette. It is currently 0.5-acres. Approximate location

Firefighting resources are enroute to the fires.

Updates will be provided as more information is available. Public are asked to stay out of the area for their safety and firefighting resources.

If you fly-we can't: Please do not fly drones anywhere near wildfires

Appreciate the clarifications Linden, and the updates in general here on the page.

I understand the need for the forest to burn incrementally, but I still get bummed when I see them pop up, especially in areas that I've tripped. I was just in the PMA near the Beartrack fire last fall and found it to be a really pretty river system.

According to Watch Duty the largest of the fires is a little over 2 acres.

The USFS just dete3cted another fire outside of the BWCA.

"Today, a new fire was reported on the Superior National Forest. Yesterday, four new fires were also reported. Three of the fires are on National Forest System land, and one is on unknown ownership. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is assisting with the suppression of the Ridge Fire and is scouting for another reported fire. All three new Forest Service fires are outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Since July 7, 2026, the forest has had ten wildfires. Today, a Fish and Wildlife Service engine, a Minnesota DNR engine, and a dozer arrived to support operations outside the BWCAW. Additional firefighting resources have been ordered, but availability is limited due to fire activity across the county."

Additional fires reported. Also we are hearing unofficially that Moose River North may be closed and permits are being cancelled. I am not sure what fire is causing this or if that is the route fire fighters are taking in.

I have a permit for moose river for the 19th and have not heard anything yet about cancellations. Hoping to still be able to go, there's not a lot of other options open.

dogwoodgirl: "I have a permit for moose river for the 19th and have not heard anything yet about cancellations. Hoping to still be able to go, there's not a lot of other options open."

Hope you can go, someone on Facebook is posting that they got a cancelled notice for Moose River.

LindenTree: "

dogwoodgirl: "I have a permit for moose river for the 19th and have not heard anything yet about cancellations. Hoping to still be able to go, there's not a lot of other options open."

Hope you can go, someone on Facebook is posting that they got a cancelled notice for Moose River."

Looks official now:

Damn.

Wonder what my chances are of the closure being lifted within a week?

Just locked in Farm Lake and cancelled Moose River for the 19th...not willing to take that chance of nothing being left.

eagle98mn: "Appreciate the clarifications Linden, and the updates in general here on the page.


I understand the need for the forest to burn incrementally, but I still get bummed when I see them pop up, especially in areas that I've tripped. I was just in the PMA near the Beartrack fire last fall and found it to be a really pretty river system."

Sorry to report for you that the Thumb fire is 100 acres now according to Watch Duty.
I really thought they would be able to keep them small, I'm guessing resources got overwhelmed with 15ish fires going on in the Superior NF. Any fire with structures threatened is going to take precedent. And with 15 fires going perhaps the Fire Boss float planes, if dispatched, got pulled away.

The Thumb fire (by Finger Lake) is reported to be 100 acres according to Watch Duty. I do not know when the last time the Superior NF had 17 fires being suppressed, I certainly do not remember it in the last 30 years but it is possible. I'm guessing 1976 was the last time they had this many on going fires.

Overview
On the evening of July 6, 2026, a storm system moved through the area with thunder and lightning and little precipitation. The following day, several small wildfires were reported. Local and off?forest firefighting resources are conducting suppression on these fires. With warm and dry summer conditions, additional wildfires are being detected daily.
Currently, the forest has 17 active wildfires, with four inside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). Nine new fires were reported yesterday. The Newton Fire, which started 7/7/2026, off Newton Lake is controlled and contained. Three fires, Section Three Pond and Echo 2, are also now contained. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is assisting with suppression activities within the forest. Quetico Provincial Park and Ontario also have numerous fires.
Wildfires
Firefighters are assessing fire conditions, working on access into the fires, and developing suppression plans for the new fires.
• Chub Fire started 7/9/2026, Size–10 acres. Location– North of Chub Lake, southwest of Crane Lake.
• Bug Creek started 7/9/2026. Size–0.10 acres. Location–South of Chub Lake.
• 614 started 7/9/2026. Size–7.3 acres. Location–Northwest of Ash Lake/East of Hwy 53.
• Camp 5/Duck started 7/9/2026. Size–0.1 acres. Location–North of Elephant Lake
• Nine Fire started 7/9/2026. Size–4 acres. Location–South of Echo Lake.
• Creek Fire started 7/9/2026. Size–1.5-acres. Location–Northwest of Chub Lake.
• Coffin Fire started 7/9/2026. Size– 0.10 acre. Location–Northwest of Echo Lake.
• Wolfpack Fire (BWCAW) started 7/9/2026. Size–2 acres. Location–Southeast of Wolfpack Lake
• Sioux Fire started 7/9/2026. Size–6 acre. Location–North of the Echo Trail and east of Jeanette Campground. Status: Firefighting resources are working on direct suppression.
• Ridge Fire/Marion Creek Fire started 7/8/2026. Size–4.5 acres. Location–East of the Vermilion River
• Beaver Tail Fire started 7/8/2026. Size–1 acre. Location–West of the Vermilion River
• Fools Gold started 7/8/2026, Size–1.5-acres, Location–West of Norway Road and south of Lake Jeanette. Cause: Unknown. Status: Firefighters and aircraft are conducting direct suppression on the fire. 15% contained.
• Echo 2 Fire started 7/8/2026, Size–0.25 acres. Location–off the Echo Rapids Rd, north of Echo Lake. Status: The fire is 100% contained.
• Camp Fire started 7/7/2026, Size–1 acre. Location–8 miles N/NE of the Cloquet Line near Ely. Cause is under investigation. Status: Crews have made great progress and have started to mop up. 80% contained.
• Bear Trap Fire (BWCAW) started 7/7/2026, Size–2-acres. Location–off the Bear Trap River & N of Sunday Lake. Caused by lightning. Status: Remote with difficult access. Minimal fire activity and aircraft are dropping water on this fire.
• Thumb Fire (BWCAW) started 7/7/2026, Size–20 acres. Location–remote & located between Thumb and Contentment Lakes. Caused by lightning. Status Remote with difficult access. Aircraft are conducting water drops on that fire.
• Section 3 Pond Fire (BWCAW) started 7/7/2026, Size– 2 acres. Location–on Section Pond, east of Lac La Croix. Cause is under investigation. Status: Crews made great progress and started mopping up. This fire is 100% contained.
Earlier fires on the Superior National Forest also being suppressed–Long 2 Wildfire. This fire is currently 80% contained

Thanks as always Adam and Linden for all your information and insight.

I will be with my scout crew tonight going over route options for our Moose River North trip planned to start on Aug 9. We will discuss backup plans but as of now the only option we would have is Trout Lake.

On a scale of 1-10, how hard should we be watching for another option to open up? We will be staying at Boundary Waters Outfitters on Farm Lake the night before.

LindenTree: "

dogwoodgirl: "I have a permit for moose river for the 19th and have not heard anything yet about cancellations. Hoping to still be able to go, there's not a lot of other options open."

Hope you can go, someone on Facebook is posting that they got a cancelled notice for Moose River."

Felt

Yep, that was me that posted that. Took about 90 minutes from the time I got my cancellation notice until USFS announced it. I actually appreciate they let us permit holders know first... I don't monitor the USFS, so I may not have known, but I do monitor my email, so as soon as my email came in I was able to start looking for other available permits. (Found one at North Kawishiwi). It was a little confusing at first, not knowing why or if it was a mistake, but since I knew about all the fires (from this forum) I was pretty sure it was legit and the reason was obvious.

LindenTree: "

eagle98mn:
Linden - anytime there is a fire I watch for your comments since your background and connections seem to keep you well-informed. Know that the information you share is appreciated!



That said, how does the current weather help? Is it just a matter of the temp being slightly lower? I would have thought the dry forecast for the next week would be problematic, so I'm slightly more optimistic that your comment seems somewhat positive. Four fires within the wilderness seemed alarming to me this morning, even if they aren't that big at this time!"

I had expected that the BWCA got the rain that we received in Duluth last night, (.25 inches) after looking I see most areas near the BW got only .05 inches at most so that is not very helpful, however todays cloudy weather will help. If they can keep the fires small the first day, it greatly increases their chances that they will stay small. However the forecast after today is not a good long term forecast for keeping fires small with the next chance for precip being 7/18. It is a good sign that after a day or two the fires are still no bigger than 1 acre. I consider the Boreal/Tiaga Forest biome to be a Go-No-Go . It either burns or it is too wet to burn, there is hardly any in between, these lightning fires are right in that small window too wet to rock and roll, but too dry to self extinguish.


What do I consider a small fire? It all depends on whether the fuel is grass or timber, I consider timber fires small if they are in the 30 acre size.


Having said this, I was the wildland fuel specialist for five National Wildlife Refuges in northern MN before I retired. The Superior NF needs to quit suppressing every lightning caused fire or they will have another Ham and Alpine Lake fire on their hands."

This is a wild thing to say given current conditions.

dogwoodgirl: "Damn.


Wonder what my chances are of the closure being lifted within a week?
"

Zero chances

toastedmarshmallow12: "


This is a wild thing to say given current conditions. "

The current conditions were 3 days before you [posted, not on 7-11.
The conditions are not that dry out there compared to past dry times, the SNF just got hit with dry lightning, that is the difference.

wxce1260: "

LindenTree: "

dogwoodgirl: "I have a permit for moose river for the 19th and have not heard anything yet about cancellations. Hoping to still be able to go, there's not a lot of other options open."

Hope you can go, someone on Facebook is posting that they got a cancelled notice for Moose River."

Felt


Yep, that was me that posted that. Took about 90 minutes from the time I got my cancellation notice until USFS announced it. I actually appreciate they let us permit holders know first... I don't monitor the USFS, so I may not have known, but I do monitor my email, so as soon as my email came in I was able to start looking for other available permits. (Found one at North Kawishiwi). It was a little confusing at first, not knowing why or if it was a mistake, but since I knew about all the fires (from this forum) I was pretty sure it was legit and the reason was obvious."

Are they cancelling John and Lizz/Swamp permits as well?
Is there a list of cancellations?
How far into the future do they cancel permits? A week, a month?

How far into the future do they cancel permits? A week, a month?"

I'm wondering this as well. I know it's not a month because I have a 12A permit which is closed as of 7/10 and my permit is for 8/10.

toastedmarshmallow12: "

dogwoodgirl: "Damn.



Wonder what my chances are of the closure being lifted within a week?
"

Zero chances"

I would disagree.30 years in the weather field and I know LindenTree. He knows his stuff. Once the heat ridge weakens or is shoved Southerly -- (which is very common after a week or so) you will likely see over riding (ridge runners) or thunderstorms- especially at night. Probably more rain than you want. Now chances dogwoodgirl's permit (19th) is opened back up? Likely less than 20%-- but certainly not ZERO>

AS linden posted- Conditions are not that dry in the areas concerned about- (RH values right now with dew points should be suppressing fires on their own NOW during the day and especially at night with light winds) it's just 2-3 days of extreme heat upcoming that may change things ( less RH) AND that the USFS learned a lot from past experience- most notably Pagami Creek of 2011 and is not rolling the dice anymore.

I have never seen closures like this before based on such small fires AT THIS TIME OF YEAR-- granted there are several, but I digress. If it was Fall after the green up-- different deal all together.

The Thumb fire is 150 acres now according to Watch Duty, up 50 acres from yesterday. All other fires have shown minimal growth.
Thanks for the kind words WW.

Toastedmarshmelllow, as of this afternoon the Canadian Fire indices are showing the areas where the fires are located as being in Moderate to High fire danger. The Superior NF uses the Canadian Fire Indices due to the boreal forest component in its forest. If fire indices were alot higher, (as I felt you were po pooing my prediction), many of these fires would be gone Johnson already, especially the Thumb fire which is in a drier area according to the Meander Remote Area Weather Station. WW play around with the toggles on the right and mess with DC Drought Code and, DMC Duff Moisture Code, I use these for longer term dryness.
Again, look when people post messages, you were three days old with calling my prediction current. Since then the Drought Code has gone up 24 points, if these fires are not given adequate resources they will only expand with predicted dry weather. OK, enough giving you S--t, have a nice evening.

Canadian Fire Indicies

I just want to say that LindenTree contributes extremely valuable knowledge and personal experience to this site. Of course nobody can predict the future, and nobody is right all the time, but I appreciate his insight. Thanks for helping keep us informed, LT.

NEIowapaddler: "I just want to say that LindenTree contributes extremely valuable knowledge and personal experience to this site. Of course nobody can predict the future, and nobody is right all the time, but I appreciate his insight. Thanks for helping keep us informed, LT. "

Bingo. I sell books for a living and don’t know anything about any of the science of this. So I’m very appreciative of the knowledge that informs Linden (and for that matter WW regarding weather). It’s helpful to have someone interpret everything and hazard a guess that is informed for the rest of us clueless enthusiasts. :)

Enhanced burning restrictions will begin for Cook, Lake, and northern St. Louis counties on Sunday, July 12
To help ensure public safety and protect natural resources, burning restrictions will begin on Sunday, July 12 at 8 a.m. for Cook, Lake, and northern St Louis counties.

In the area affected by the restrictions:

No campfires are allowed for dispersed, remote, backpacking, or backcountry camping on all state-managed, private, and local lands, whether there is a designated fire ring or not.
On state lands, this means campfires are not allowed in state forests, including state forest campgrounds, state day-use areas, state recreational areas, and backpacking sites in state parks.
Campfires are allowed only in an established fire ring associated with a state park, home, cabin, permanent campground, or resort.
No burning of brush or yard waste is allowed. Burning permits will not be issued or activated.
No fireworks may be ignited on any public or private land outside city limits.
The burning restrictions will remain in effect until terminated by the DNR Commissioner when weather and environmental conditions indicate a reduction in fire danger.

LindenTree: "The Thumb fire is 150 acres now according to Watch Duty, up 50 acres from yesterday. All other fires have shown minimal growth.
Thanks for the kind words WW.


Toastedmarshmelllow, as of this afternoon the Canadian Fire indices are showing the areas where the fires are located as being in Moderate to High fire danger. The Superior NF uses the Canadian Fire Indices due to the boreal forest component in its forest. If fire indices were alot higher, (as I felt you were po pooing my prediction), many of these fires would be gone Johnson already, especially the Thumb fire which is in a drier area according to the Meander Remote Area Weather Station. WW play around with the toggles on the right and mess with DC Drought Code and, DMC Duff Moisture Code, I use these for longer term dryness.
Again, look when people post messages, you were three days old with calling my prediction current. Since then the Drought Code has gone up 24 points, if these fires are not given adequate resources they will only expand with predicted dry weather. OK, enough giving you S--t, have a nice evening.

Canadian Fire Indicies "

I am well educated thanks. My family member actively fighting one of these fires and you are both way off base.

toastedmarshmallow12: "

LindenTree: "The Thumb fire is 150 acres now according to Watch Duty, up 50 acres from yesterday. All other fires have shown minimal growth.
Thanks for the kind words WW.



Toastedmarshmelllow, as of this afternoon the Canadian Fire indices are showing the areas where the fires are located as being in Moderate to High fire danger. The Superior NF uses the Canadian Fire Indices due to the boreal forest component in its forest. If fire indices were alot higher, (as I felt you were po pooing my prediction), many of these fires would be gone Johnson already, especially the Thumb fire which is in a drier area according to the Meander Remote Area Weather Station. WW play around with the toggles on the right and mess with DC Drought Code and, DMC Duff Moisture Code, I use these for longer term dryness.
Again, look when people post messages, you were three days old with calling my prediction current. Since then the Drought Code has gone up 24 points, if these fires are not given adequate resources they will only expand with predicted dry weather. OK, enough giving you S--t, have a nice evening.


Canadian Fire Indicies "

I am well educated thanks. My family member actively fighting one of these fires and you are both way off base."

b extreme across the board ??

toastedmarshmallow12: "

toastedmarshmallow12: "

LindenTree: "The Thumb fire is 150 acres now according to Watch Duty, up 50 acres from yesterday. All other fires have shown minimal growth.
Thanks for the kind words WW.



Toastedmarshmelllow, as of this afternoon the Canadian Fire indices are showing the areas where the fires are located as being in Moderate to High fire danger. The Superior NF uses the Canadian Fire Indices due to the boreal forest component in its forest. If fire indices were alot higher, (as I felt you were po pooing my prediction), many of these fires would be gone Johnson already, especially the Thumb fire which is in a drier area according to the Meander Remote Area Weather Station. WW play around with the toggles on the right and mess with DC Drought Code and, DMC Duff Moisture Code, I use these for longer term dryness.
Again, look when people post messages, you were three days old with calling my prediction current. Since then the Drought Code has gone up 24 points, if these fires are not given adequate resources they will only expand with predicted dry weather. OK, enough giving you S--t, have a nice evening.



Canadian Fire Indicies "

I am well educated thanks. My family member actively fighting one of these fires and you are both way off base."

b extreme across the board ??"

again very high to extreme
I can keep going

fires keep popping up

Some 17 wildfires continue to burn in the area and dry conditions persist; 13 entry points into the BWCA near Ely were closed Saturday and access to 15 lakes near Quetico will close Sunday.
Late Friday the Forest Service expanded closures to include access to 15 lakes in the northwest portion of the Gunflint Ranger District because of a wildfire in Quetico Provincial Park.

The forest has 17 active wildfires, four of which sit inside the BWCAW. One new fire was reported Friday while the small Coffin Fire near Echo Lake was removed from the list.


The Thumb Fire, more than 140acres, is the largest in the BWCAW and located northwest of Ely near the U.S.-Canadian border.

The Chub Fire just north of Chub Lake and southwest of Crane Lake is the second largest fire in the forest, spanning 25 acres. The Beaver Tail Fires, just west of Vermillion, is burning across 10 acres.

Most of the fire threat is north and west of Ely. The entry points targeted for closure are along the Echo Trail, a popular and heavily used gateway to the wilderness, Forest Service spokesperson Joy Liptak VanDrie said in news releases Friday and Saturday.

Ely Temps 20 degrees above normal

Very faint but it appears to be able to see smoke plumes from (guessing here) the Bear Trap fire and the Jeanette Fire. Moving SW to NE




Satellite (Visible) in motion

WhiteWolf: "Very faint but it appears to be able to see smoke plumes from (guessing here) the Bear Trap fire and the Jeanette Fire. Moving SW to NE




Satellite (Visible) in motion "

Looks like there might be another smoke plume to the NW of those, in that oxbow.

toastedmarshmallow12


I am well educated thanks. My family member actively fighting one of these fires and you are both way off base."

b extreme across the board ??" again very high to extreme
I can keep going"

Today and tomorrow will be the test. Toasted M, I realize the fire danger, that is different from drought. The DNR has todays fire danger as high. The tabs you posted FFMC and FWI are indices used for daily fire danger ratings, I quoted long term drought indices, Drought Code and Duff Moisture codes which are moderate and high in your graphs and the drought monitor that has the area in abnormally dry categories. Again the DC and DMC are not that dry compared to the past dry spells. I have seen the DC over 600 in the BW. We will see what happens with the Red Flag warnings for today, there is a good chance for the Thumb and Chub fires to get a head of steam today.

A NIMO team has been ordered for the Thumb fire. I am guessing they may take on a couple of the other fires in the area. NIMO. is National Incident Management Organization. Similar to other national teams that deal with all risk incidents.


Quote from the Sit Report.
* "Thumb, Superior NF, USFS. NIMO Team 3 mobilizing. Six miles south of Lac La Croix, Ontario, Canada.
Timber. Active fire behavior with flanking and torching. Evacuations in effect. "

The national situation Report has the Thumb fire at 100 acres, but I think it will be significantly bigger in the next couple days. Heat signatures show that it has burned north up to Bear Track Lake. Chub fire is showing 50 acres according to Watch Duty.

Crane lake may get 100 degrees F. Monday now and beat the record by 8-10
degrees.
You would know Linden, that has to be terrible trying to fight fires in all the fire protective clothing. Has to be some serious heat problems occurring. That has to be a young man or women's job -than.

Pinetree: "Crane lake may get 100 degrees F. Monday now and beat the record by 8-10
degrees.
You know Linden that has to be terrible tryin to fight fires in all the fire protective clothing. Has to be some serious heat problems occurring."

Great point. I cannot even imagine trying to fight a fire in thick boreal forest in those temperatures. How would you keep from getting heat stroke?

Pinetree: "Crane lake may get 100 degrees F. Monday now and beat the record by 8-10
degrees.
You would know Linden, that has to be terrible trying to fight fires in all the fire protective clothing. Has to be some serious heat problems occurring. That has to be a young man or women's job -than."

I fought fires in the desert SW near St, George UT in temps over 110, temps, standing near the fire or a torching tree and you are much warmer, even the locals were going down. They stationed an ambulance at the staging area for us to cool off in. You can slowly fight fire for 10 - 15 minutes then have to shade up for the same amount of time. The weather for the next few days would be brutal for firefighting in the Boreal Forest, with the added bugs for desert.

Watch Duty has the Bear Trap fire at 200 acres.

LindenTree: "Watch Duty has the Bear Trap fire at 200 acres.


"

I saw at 9:06AM they had the fire at 84 acres. By 10:25am they had it at 200 acres. I would think the fire has gone a considerable distance today. Are you able to expand on the evacuation zones I am seeing on my Watch Duty ap? I'm not sure what they mean.

Thumb fire is now 500 acres. It was 143 acres yesterday.

Red Flag Warning for the region with the temperatures reaching into the mid to high 90's today and tomorrow. 17 fires in the area currently. Notable growth of larger fires:

Thumb Fire - 500 acres
Bear Trap Fire - 200 acres
Chub Fire - 50 acres
Wolf Pack Fire - 61 acres
Sioux Fire - 50 acres

Closures List and Map

NOTICE: An Emergency Closure Order for the current Bear Trap, Thumb, & Wolfpack wildfire areas (LaCroix & Kawishiwi Districts) in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is effective July 11, 2026, for public and firefighter safety. This is an on-going situation and we expect to make daily updates. All related information will be posted on our Alerts webpage and inciweb links below.
The following sites are closed:
• Bear Trap, Thumb, and Wolfpack Wildfire areas (per exhibit B map)
• Angleworm Lake (OP) #20
• Angleworm Trail (OH) #21
• Blandin Trail (OH) #11
• Herriman Trail (OH) #13
• Little Indian Sioux River North (OP) #14
• Little Vermilion Lake (OP, OM) #12
• Lac La Croix Only (OP, OM) #12A
• Moose/Portage River North (OP) #16
• Mudro Lake – Restricted (OP) #22
• Mudro Lake (OP) #23
• South Hegman Lake #77 (OP) #77
• Stuart River (OP) #19
• Sioux Hustler Trail (OH) #15

I was through thumb-contentment-brigand in 2023. Lots of dead fall, and it was very thick. There are a lot of lower swamplands, but the hills are covered in half dead jackpine. This one could burn for a while if the weather doesn't turn soon.

My nephew was in -the -thumb lake area 1 month ago and was super hot and even than he said the wood was super dry and you could almost look at it and start a campfire.

I hope that beautiful campsite on Finger (the one on the island with the erratic) makes it, that site is so beautiful. I took a day off there on a solo.

Sad to say the Thumb fire appears to be making pretty good run, not sure how big this will get but I'm guessing considerable more that 500 acres, most likely a few thousand. toasted marshmewllow was right on this one. The fires will get a cooler, NW wind on Wednesday.

LindenTree: "

Pinetree: "Crane lake may get 100 degrees F. Monday now and beat the record by 8-10
degrees.
You would know Linden, that has to be terrible trying to fight fires in all the fire protective clothing. Has to be some serious heat problems occurring. That has to be a young man or women's job -than."

I fought fires in the desert SW near St, George UT in temps over 110, temps, standing near the fire or a torching tree and you are much warmer, even the locals were going down. They stationed an ambulance at the staging area for us to cool off in. You can slowly fight fire for 10 - 15 minutes then have to shade up for the same amount of time. The weather for the next few days would be brutal for firefighting in the Boreal Forest, with the added bugs for desert."

I have the deepest respect and admiration for wildland firefighters. In my household, we are especially thankful for the 1,006 men and women fighting the Gold Mountain Fire within 10 miles of our home.

Firefighters Emily Barker, Nick Hutcherson, and Sydney Watson died on June 27, 2026 fighting a separate fire on the Utah-Colorado border. Such a tragic loss of incredibly brave individuals.

The plumes are pretty big today. I’m assuming they ran today.

LindenTree: "Watch Duty has the Bear Trap fire at 200 acres.


"

550 now, just 4 hours later.

I had to look twice to make sure I wasn’t seeing an Arizona forecast tomorrow and the next day. Very concerning.

Not claiming this is the same, but it reminds me of the summer we had when the Greenwood fire popped off.

Watch Duty has the Thumb fire at 600 acres, the Bear Trap and Dark Fires look to be a combined 700 acres.

On Cal Topo the fires look much bigger than that. All three fires have made it to Lac Lacroix and IRon Lake some Islands appear to have some spot fires on them. I bet Canada is hoping they don't jump across the border today. It will be a crap shoot on that one. The Sioux fire is 300 acres and a smaller fire has burned into Upper Pauness Lake.

Cal Topo, you may have to scroll into the BW

LindenTree: "Watch Duty has the Thumb fire at 600 acres, the Bear Trap and Dark Fires look to be a combined 700 acres.


On Cal Topo the fires look much bigger than that. All three fires have made it to Lac Lacroix and some Islands appear to have some spot fires on them. I bet Canada is hoping they don't jump across the border today. It will be a crap shoot on that one. The Sioux fire is 300 acres and a smaller fire has burned into Upper Pauness Lake.

Cal Topo, you may have to scroll into the BW "

I'm looking but don't seem to find a legend or something - can you explain what the map shows? There's the yellow crosshatched area (I would have guessed the fire itself, but...) and then orange, yellow, and red asterisks with red shaded areas around those. Are those spot fires with estimated areas? i.e. the fire has already spread to Pocket Creek?

noodle:

I'm looking but don't seem to find a legend or something - can you explain what the map shows? There's the yellow crosshatched area (I would have guessed the fire itself, but...) and then orange, yellow, and red asterisks with red shaded areas around those. Are those spot fires with estimated areas? i.e. the fire has already spread to Pocket Creek?"

The asterisks are time stamped, the yellow are oldest with orange and red being more recent observations. I am not sure what the circles around the asterisks mean, I doubt they are the fire perimeter, they must be something in the computer program. The red asterisks would be the area where the satellites picked up recent heat signals. Yes Pocket Creek is affected.

I used Cal Topo and a BWCA map to make a super rough guess that the Thumb fire is in the 4,000 acre size. I fear that when this is over a large part of the bow under Lac Lacroix will be affected by these fires.

I will also predict that the fire in Canada north of Ottertrack Lake will be in the BW before this is over. We will see.

silver lining, if it spreads to the Alpine/Seagull area, at least there'll be less left to burn there.

LindenTree: "

noodle:


I'm looking but don't seem to find a legend or something - can you explain what the map shows? There's the yellow crosshatched area (I would have guessed the fire itself, but...) and then orange, yellow, and red asterisks with red shaded areas around those. Are those spot fires with estimated areas? i.e. the fire has already spread to Pocket Creek?"

The asterisks are time stamped, the yellow are oldest with orange and red being more recent observations. I am not sure what the circles around the asterisks mean, I doubt they are the fire perimeter, they must be something in the computer program. The red asterisks would be the area where the satellites picked up recent heat signals. Yes Pocket Creek is affected."

Those circles are the resolution error. The observed hot spot could be anywhere in the circle.

LindenTree: "I used Cal Topo and a BWCA map to make a super rough guess that the Thumb fire is in the 4,000 acre size. I fear that when this is over a large part of the bow under Lac Lacroix will be affected by these fires.

I will also predict that the fire in Canada north of Ottertrack Lake will be in the BW before this is over. We will see."

wow, and I believe the fire season is just getting started.

Also what about all the seasonal staff at outfitters-layoffs coming?

I'm surprised they're picking up hot spots that far downwind of the main burn area. If that's accurate it's really bad news.

Hey Linden-
How often does that CAL TOPO fire map update? It seems from my laymens research in the past that most satellites that map fire areas ( at least the free ones) do so at night when it's easier to spot a fire based on easier thermal principles and visibility--- Those time stamps mainly (a few not) all seem to be at night also, maybe I'am totally off.

WhiteWolf: "Hey Linden-
How often does that CAL TOPO fire map update? It seems from my laymens research in the past that most satellites that map fire areas ( at least the free ones) do so at night when it's easier to spot a fire based on easier thermal principles and visibility--- Those time stamps mainly (a few not) all seem to be at night also, maybe I'am totally off. "

WW, You know as much as I do. I see time stamps mostly at night, but I have seen them in the day time also.

LindenTree: "

WhiteWolf: "Hey Linden-
How often does that CAL TOPO fire map update? It seems from my laymens research in the past that most satellites that map fire areas ( at least the free ones) do so at night when it's easier to spot a fire based on easier thermal principles and visibility--- Those time stamps mainly (a few not) all seem to be at night also, maybe I'am totally off. "

WW, You know as much as I do. I see time stamps mostly at night, but I have seen them in the day time also. "

Found this which helps some-
CAl TOPO fire mapping info

WhiteWolf:

Found this which helps some-
CAl TOPO fire mapping info "

Check out Flight Trader 24, it shows aircraft working on the fires. The telling thing about it is that there are few aircraft up there working on them. The most I have seen is three. A couple 802 Fire Boss Float Planes and a KMax helicopter. No Super Scoopers yet/215's and 415's.

Flightrader24

If you change in the lower right of fire activity to just VIIRS 375M- you will get a better idea of the intensity of what has been recorded. If you select just VIIRS 375m ( 375M nominal resoultion - guessing about 1/4 sq mile or so) from the dropdown menu you’re also able to see temperature and power (measured in megawatts) of that data point.
1 megawatt = approx 3.4 million btu's .
Fascinating stuff.

LindenTree: "

WhiteWolf:


Found this which helps some-
CAl TOPO fire mapping info "

Check out Flight Trader 24, it shows aircraft working on the fires. The telling thing about it is that there are few aircraft up there working on them. The most I have seen is three. A couple 802 Fire Boss Float Planes and a KMax helicopter. No Super Scoopers yet/215's and 415's.

Flightrader24 "

Brainerd has a big MN DNR air fire base,I would assume they would be up there.

LindenTree: "

WhiteWolf:


Found this which helps some-
CAl TOPO fire mapping info "

Check out Flight Trader 24, it shows aircraft working on the fires. The telling thing about it is that there are few aircraft up there working on them. The most I have seen is three. A couple 802 Fire Boss Float Planes and a KMax helicopter. No Super Scoopers yet/215's and 415's.

Flightrader24 "

It looks like an 802 Air Tractor is operating there. Great, but small, firefighting plane.

There are only four to six DHC 215/415 "Super Scooper" aircraft in the entire USA. Even tiny Croatia has six. Canada has sixty-four (Ontario operates nine 415s). A major head-scratcher that lake and forest dense MN doesn't have at least a couple. I checked the order sheet for the 415s and the newer 515s. Twenty-two in production - all going to European countries; none from the USA.

Not lookin good-as of 1407 today Ely Temp is 99 degrees F.(a record) and wind is gusting out of the southwest at 27 MPH.

Argo: "

Flightrader24 "

I checked the order sheet for the 415s and the newer 515s. Twenty-two in production - all going to European countries; none from the USA.




" I got a tour of this 415 while staffing fires in Lewiston MT. 2018, they can put down the water curtain.

This cannot be confirmed in anyway so take it with a grain of salt, but my dad works for the forest service and is up at Seagull Forest Service Station and he texted me this morning and said the Bear Trap Fire is up to 3,600 acres and the Canadian wildfire just across the border is only "several hundred yards from Minnesota." Again, take it with a grain of salt, but I trust the source.

SpokaneFlyer: "This cannot be confirmed in anyway so take it with a grain of salt, but my dad works for the forest service and is up at Seagull Forest Service Station and he texted me this morning and said the Bear Trap Fire is up to 3,600 acres and the Canadian wildfire just across the border is only "several hundred yards from Minnesota." Again, take it with a grain of salt, but I trust the source."

Doesn't surprise me a bit, I'm guessing we will see new acreages from the FS soon, I saw an air attack plane circling over all the fires a couple hours ago. most likely mapping them.

I was just looking at the gunflint lodge webcam on the cook county webcam page and it looks like there is a huge fire north and west of the granite river. the amount of smoke is reminiscent of the ham lake fire.

Watching the same thing. I think this is from the Otter Track fire in which case, it's really going strong and it will probably close the distance to trail's end by tomorrow. I hope the winds die before then.

Would "ten o'clock conntrol" have prevented this situtation?

New update from my dad (who works for the forest service) The Thumb fire is now 6,500 acres and the Bear Trap is close to that size. They are spread so thin that any containment they get is iffy at best. He also said that the Otter Track fire jumped the border into the US at the western tip of Saganaga Lake.

SpokaneFlyer: "New update from my dad (who works for the forest service) The Thumb fire is now 6,500 acres and the Bear Trap is close to that size. They are spread so thin that any containment they get is iffy at best. He also said that the Otter Track fire jumped the border into the US at the western tip of Saganaga Lake."

Does that mean everything around Curtain Falls and Iron lake were burned off?

BuckSutherland: "

SpokaneFlyer: "New update from my dad (who works for the forest service) The Thumb fire is now 6,500 acres and the Bear Trap is close to that size. They are spread so thin that any containment they get is iffy at best. He also said that the Otter Track fire jumped the border into the US at the western tip of Saganaga Lake."

Does that mean everything around Curtain Falls and Iron lake were burned off? "

I don't want to speculate on that, because I am honestly not sure. All I know is what I have been told.

BuckSutherland:

Does that mean everything around Curtain Falls and Iron lake were burned off? "

Curtain Falls area appears to be good, I can let you know in the morning after the satellite flight. In the next couple days with the predicted weather the falls likely will be threatened. Iron Lake is definitely going to have alot of black on the US side and probably Canada also if it jumps the border.

The VIIRS hotspot data is giving me chills at how fast and far these are spreading and stretching out, and as the wind shifts tomorrow AM (and gusts up to 20 are forecast), the fires are going to take a right turn and have a very wide SE edge to run.

Sounds like the Camp Fire (What a Name) north of Winton just jump its lines and is 1,500 acres now according to watch Duty. Pics on facebook show a large column.

It just doesn't end, with little to no rain predicted.

LindenTree: "Sounds like the Camp Fire (What a Name) north of Winton just jump its lines and is 1,500 acres now according to watch Duty. Pics on facebook show a large column.


It just doesn't end, with little to no rain predicted."

The extended looks dismal too. July 27th according to Accuweather is showing 1/3" rain, nothing before then.

So with the BWCA closing tomorrow, I'm curious what markers the forest service uses to re-open. Fire containment? Rain? Direction the firest are moving? Yes to all?

anthonylane: "

LindenTree: "Sounds like the Camp Fire (What a Name) north of Winton just jump its lines and is 1,500 acres now according to watch Duty. Pics on facebook show a large column.



It just doesn't end, with little to no rain predicted."

The extended looks dismal too. July 27th according to Accuweather is showing 1/3" rain, nothing before then.


So with the BWCA closing tomorrow, I'm curious what markers the forest service uses to re-open. Fire containment? Rain? Direction the firest are moving? Yes to all?"

who knows-may be snow in November.

Duluth Newspaper:
The number of individuals needing to evacuate the Boundary Waters remains uncertain.

Of the approximately 21 fires started since July 7, the Echo 2, located north of Echo Lake, is one of the most concerning for Forest Service staff after it jumped the containment line on Sunday due to red flag conditions, causing it to grow from 9 acres to 14 acres.


A aircraft black in color displayed inside of a training center.
Cirrus Aircraft unveils new Talent Center in Hermantown
Jun 26
The Chub Fire, which is burning directly north of Chub Lake and southwest of Crane Lake, remains another area of concern, as it eclipsed 100 acres as of Monday morning with no containment, and significant growth was expected over the course of Monday afternoon due to the red flag conditions.

In the case of the Thumb (5,000 acres), Dark (600 acres) and Bear Trap (3,000 acres) fires, only Mother Nature will likely be able to fully extinguish them.

“In all likelihood, the only thing that’s going to put those fully out is snow,” said Forest Supervisor Drew Stroberg. “We get snow in the fall. These things will likely be burning in some way, shape or form until then.”

The Bear Trap and Dark fires were projected to merge over the course of the day Monday, according to Forest Service staff.

LindenTree: "Sounds like the Camp Fire (What a Name) north of Winton just jump its lines and is 1,500 acres now according to watch Duty. Pics on facebook show a large column.


It just doesn't end, with little to no rain predicted."

The Camp Fire started by Camp Lake. This fire really took off today. I’m guessing it may have burned a structure or two today. Just a guess.

Finnboy: "

LindenTree: "Sounds like the Camp Fire (What a Name) north of Winton just jump its lines and is 1,500 acres now according to watch Duty. Pics on facebook show a large column.



It just doesn't end, with little to no rain predicted."

The Camp Fire started by Camp Lake. This fire really took off today. I’m guessing it may have burned a structure or two today. Just a guess."

On the radio I heard dispatch pulling 2 aircraft from the Miller fire to the Camp Fire to try and save a couple of structures.

Finnboy: "

LindenTree: "Sounds like the Camp Fire (What a Name) north of Winton just jump its lines and is 1,500 acres now according to watch Duty. Pics on facebook show a large column.



It just doesn't end, with little to no rain predicted."

The Camp Fire started by Camp Lake. This fire really took off today. I’m guessing it may have burned a structure or two today. Just a guess."

Yes, this one has the potential to be a big deal with the predicted Northerly winds in the next few days.

At least 17 people have been airlifted out of the Boundary Waters as the national forest closes amid a surge of wildfires.

The U.S. Forest Service announced Monday that it was closing the Boundary Waters to protect the public, with officials saying that the fires can shift and trap visitors with little warning.

NEIowapaddler: "I'm surprised they're picking up hot spots that far downwind of the main burn area. If that's accurate it's really bad news. "

Ots not a surprise with current conditions

LindenTree: "

toastedmarshmallow12



I am well educated thanks. My family member actively fighting one of these fires and you are both way off base."

b extreme across the board ??"

again very high to extreme
I can keep going"


Today and tomorrow will be the test. Toasted M, I realize the fire danger, that is different from drought. The DNR has todays fire danger as high. The tabs you posted FFMC and FWI are indices used for daily fire danger ratings, I quoted long term drought indices, Drought Code and Duff Moisture codes which are moderate and high in your graphs and the drought monitor that has the area in abnormally dry categories. Again the DC and DMC are not that dry compared to the past dry spells. I have seen the DC over 600 in the BW. We will see what happens with the Red Flag warnings for today, there is a good chance for the Thumb and Chub fires to g et a head of steam today.
" Again you've been way off base. Just like I said. Wild that you think you are more knowledgeable than the people who are actually put on the line. Which is where Im getting my info.

SpokaneFlyer: "New update from my dad (who works for the forest service) The Thumb fire is now 6,500 acres and the Bear Trap is close to that size. They are spread so thin that any containment they get is iffy at best. He also said that the Otter Track fire jumped the border into the US at the western tip of Saganaga Lake."

That has not been confirmed

toastedmarshmallow12: "

LindenTree: "

toastedmarshmallow12



I am well educated thanks. My family member actively fighting one of these fires and you are both way off base."

b extreme across the board ??"

again very high to extreme
I can keep going"

Today and tomorrow will be the test. Toasted M, I realize the fire danger, that is different from drought. The DNR has todays fire danger as high. The tabs you posted FFMC and FWI are indices used for daily fire danger ratings, I quoted long term drought indices, Drought Code and Duff Moisture codes which are moderate and high in your graphs and the drought monitor that has the area in abnormally dry categories. Again the DC and DMC are not that dry compared to the past dry spells. I have seen the DC over 600 in the BW. We will see what happens with the Red Flag warnings for today, there is a good chance for the Thumb and Chub fires to g et a head of steam today.
" Again you've been way off base. Just like I said. Wild that you think you are more knowledgeable than the people who are actually put on the line. Which is where Im getting my info."

TM - enough of the rhubarb. Linden and myself have acknowledged that you were correct and us not so. Time to move on.

ToastedMarshmallow, in a disagreement the only thing worse than a sore loser is an ungracious winner. Knock it off.

Fernberg road evacuations
Evacuations underway along Fernberg
Lake County Emergency Management has ordered evacuations along the U.S. Highway 169/Fernberg Corridor from the Garden Lake Bridge to the end of the Fernberg at the Lake One Entry Point.
A public shelter has been established at the Babbitt Municipal Building at 71 South Drive in Babbitt. It will be open and staffed at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, the Superior National Forest said on Facebook.

wonder how big -the birch lake fire is?

Fernberg

Pinetree: "Fernberg road evacuations
Evacuations underway along Fernberg
Lake County Emergency Management has ordered evacuations along the U.S. Highway 169/Fernberg Corridor from the Garden Lake Bridge to the end of the Fernberg at the Lake One Entry Point.
A public shelter has been established at the Babbitt Municipal Building at 71 South Drive in Babbitt. It will be open and staffed at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, the Superior National Forest said on Facebook.


Fernberg "

Highway 11 east of Atikokan is closed because of two recent fires. One is being held while the other is still listed as out of control. I assume these fires are receiving top priority. When looking at the Ontario fire map, and clicking on the icon that shows extinguished fires, there has been many of these along the highway. I assume they started from ash from distant fires but I do wonder why there's a preponderance of them adjacent to the highway. Are people tossing cigarettes out the window?

Size of fire south of Snowbank-birch Island fire size is ?

Pinetree: "Fernberg road evacuations
Evacuations underway along Fernberg
Lake County Emergency Management has ordered evacuations along the U.S. Highway 169/Fernberg Corridor from the Garden Lake Bridge to the end of the Fernberg at the Lake One Entry Point.
A public shelter has been established at the Babbitt Municipal Building at 71 South Drive in Babbitt. It will be open and staffed at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, the Superior National Forest said on Facebook.

wonder how big -the birch lake fire is?


Fernberg "

I’m assuming they’re worried the Camp Fire might make its way down the Fernberg Corridor? I was just thinking about driving up to retrieve some important items from my cabin down the Fernberg Road…guess I missed that chance. Yikes.


Tony

Pinetree: "Size of fire south of Snowbank-birch Island fire size is ?"

Watch Duty has it at 1/4 acre.

BuckSutherland: "

SpokaneFlyer: "New update from my dad (who works for the forest service) The Thumb fire is now 6,500 acres and the Bear Trap is close to that size. They are spread so thin that any containment they get is iffy at best. He also said that the Otter Track fire jumped the border into the US at the western tip of Saganaga Lake."

Does that mean everything around Curtain Falls and Iron lake were burned off? "

Sorry BS, Curtian Falls looks like it was compromised by fire. Iron Lake also got hit hard with the Bear Trap/Dark fire jumping the lake and is well established in Quetico PP.

LindenTree: "Sorry BS, Curtian Falls looks like it was compromised by fire. Iron Lake also got hit hard with the Bear Trap/Dark fire jumping the lake and is well established in Quetico PP."

That is sad, I assume many of the campsites are now unusable for some time which is going to make it a lot harder to get there. Was hoping to snag a returned permit to get up there in late August.

St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay has announced the Echo Trail is now closed due to the wildfires and evacuation orders are in place.

With so many sources for wildfire information I will try to summarize their sizes. Some info is from watch duty and some from the USFS.

Campfire 2,125 acres, this is the one N of Winton.

Dark/Beartrap fires have merged and are shown to be 13,000 acres, I am guessing this includes acreage in Canada but I am not sure.

Sioux fire by EP 14 Little Indian Sioux EP. 3,500 acres

Wolfpack Fire just north of the Sioux fire 2,200 acres.

Thumb Fire 4,600 acres, this is most likely an underestimation of its size.

FORO28 Fire the fire north of Ottertrack Lake. 2,500 acres, the USFS believes it has crossed into the US/Sag Lake area.

Little if any containment has been accomplished on any of these fires.

Pinetree: "St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay has announced the Echo Trail is now closed due to the wildfires and evacuation orders are in place."

What about Echo Shores, Big Lake and the rest of resorts on the echo trail?

LindenTree: "

BuckSutherland: "

SpokaneFlyer: "New update from my dad (who works for the forest service) The Thumb fire is now 6,500 acres and the Bear Trap is close to that size. They are spread so thin that any containment they get is iffy at best. He also said that the Otter Track fire jumped the border into the US at the western tip of Saganaga Lake."

Does that mean everything around Curtain Falls and Iron lake were burned off? "

Sorry BS, Curtian Falls looks like it was compromised by fire. Iron Lake also got hit hard with the Bear Trap/Dark fire jumping the lake and is well established in Quetico PP."

I am deeply saddened by this. Was just there for the first and only time on June 20th. We had the whole place to ourselves all afternoon. I hope at least some of the big pines survive, but I doubt it. Cedars are surely gone.

Sunday and Saturday bay on Crooked lake look to be toast as well. Fire looks spread deep to the NE in Quetico so now it can work its way south with the north winds and get Thursday and Friday bay as well and head towards Lower Basswood Falls. Stayed in those spots with my wife and 10 year old daughter at the end of May for the first time.

I was through the Pagami creek fire in 2023, 2024 and 2025. This is gonna end up being bigger acreage wise I think. This also sucks. Some fire is not bad. This is too much. I had been commenting to my family as we paddled about all the dead balsam fir and just how bad I thought things would get under these circumstances. Now here we are. Not fun.

LindenTree: "Thumb Fire 4,600 acres, this is most likely an underestimation of its size."

Thank you for the nice summary. According to a USFS post on Facebook from about 2 hours ago, the Thumb Fire is 12,300 acres.

Ouch, I got 'burned' in 2021 had to plan B it to Sylvania which was pretty cool actually.

I have to ask, what is the cause of these fires.

scat: "Ouch, I got 'burned' in 2021 had to plan B it to Sylvania which was pretty cool actually.


I have to ask, what is the cause of these fires."

Lightning

Comparison:
MINNESOTA—Pagami Creek remains Minnesota’s largest wildfire in over a century, burning 93,000 acres in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in August 2011. Most of the area burned in just a few days during a wind-driven run of unprecedented speed and extent.

Map as of 1550 July 14 Fire map

Dang some real prime locations getting taken out... Went to the Iron, Curtain Falls, Argo area last year. Absolutely beautiful, sad to see.

BuckSutherland: "

LindenTree: "

BuckSutherland: "

SpokaneFlyer: "New update from my dad (who works for the forest service) The Thumb fire is now 6,500 acres and the Bear Trap is close to that size. They are spread so thin that any containment they get is iffy at best. He also said that the Otter Track fire jumped the border into the US at the western tip of Saganaga Lake."

Does that mean everything around Curtain Falls and Iron lake were burned off? "

Sorry BS, Curtian Falls looks like it was compromised by fire. Iron Lake also got hit hard with the Bear Trap/Dark fire jumping the lake and is well established in Quetico PP."

I am deeply saddened by this. Was just there for the first and only time on June 20th. We had the whole place to ourselves all afternoon. I hope at least some of the big pines survive, but I doubt it. Cedars are surely gone.


Sunday and Saturday bay on Crooked lake look to be toast as well. Fire looks spread deep to the NE in Quetico so now it can work its way south with the north winds and get Thursday and Friday bay as well and head towards Lower Basswood Falls. Stayed in those spots with my wife and 10 year old daughter at the end of May for the first time.


I was through the Pagami creek fire in 2023, 2024 and 2025. This is gonna end up being bigger acreage wise I think. This also sucks. Some fire is not bad. This is too much. I had been commenting to my family as we paddled about all the dead balsam fir and just how bad I thought things would get under these circumstances. Now here we are. Not fun. "

I missed my chance to see Iron/CurtainFalls/Crooked, which I had on my list for years. This is very sad. At least I did make it to other areas in this Western portion on a couple of different trips, including just last week, to see many of the beautiful mature pine that was there. Looks like Lynx burned - that was a pretty lake :(

Really good article from the Hot Shot Wake UP, I think it is a face book article so it might not work for some. It states that all the fires combined went 33,000 acres yesterday.

"The Camp Fire, which is burning North of Ely, Minnesota, ran 4.5 miles in just hours yesterday. Similar fire weather lingers in the region today, with temps remaining in the 90s. The Camp Fire is now 2,200 acres and remains extremely active.

I spoke yesterday about the massive potential of these fires when they were just a few acres, and how heavy the fuel loading is on the ground in Northern Minnesota. I have fought numerous fires up near Ely and Grand Marais, including the 93,000-acre Pagami Creek Fire. Here is what fuel conditions look like on the Camp Fire currently."


Tho Shot Wake UP

After many years of wanting to make it to the EP14/EP16 area this was going to be the year. Right now feeling doubtful that we will be able to use our Aug 9 permit for Moose River North. This one one of 4 crews the scout troop I help plan to set out for trips, with the other 3 groups having permits for Fall, Moose, and North Kiwishiwi. At this point it seems like the full BWCA closure may still be in effect.

I particular I really feel for the scouts from New York that were going to join us. Figures crossed that the weather turns cold and wet soon.

Check out the live photos and live streams from Visit Cook County:

Gunflint Trail Webcams

Tom

quark2222: "Check out the live photos and live streams from Visit Cook County:


Gunflint Trail Webcams


Tom"

Eerie looking at Seagull Outfitters and Gunflint Lodge right now.

Those live cams are wild.. has there ever been this many large fires all going on at once???

Also did the Thumb fire take out LLC not looking good :( was hoping to get out to Lady Boot Bay

OMGitsKa: "Those live cams are wild.. has there ever been this many large fires all going on at once???


Also did the Thumb fire take out LLC not looking good :( was hoping to get out to Lady Boot Bay"

It looks like maybe the Northern part of LBB and the western half of Coleman Island may have been impacted. Sadly...

This situation is so widespread. I've been to almost all the places where the fires are now.

I know fire is good for the forest and fauna, but gosh darn...

I just hope that all the first responders and FS personnel stay safe and that there is minimal/no loss of property.

OMGitsKa: "Those live cams are wild.. has there ever been this many large fires all going on at once???


Also did the Thumb fire take out LLC not looking good :( was hoping to get out to Lady Boot Bay"

I was listening to the radio chatter today and the crews were doing drops near the LLC Ranger Cabin to try and save it. I know the fire had reached the west side of Lady Boot, not sure if it jumped some of the islands and continued east.

Tony

I hope Google Maps estimation from satellite is off for Dark/Beartrap fire -- as it shows 246 sq KM burned compared to 55 sq km from last update yday. REALLY HOPE Google Maps is Wrong!!! as 246 sq km = 61000 acres.



This fire - though- seems to have maintained it's force over night on satellite. Last night it did not. But these unconventional satellite channels are very hard to interpret because they very rarely get used for this purpose. How often does one look at fires at night from a satellite in the Upper Midwest? It does appear that clouds just moved out of the area- allowing a stronger return of white pixels, but that is a strong return. Take it FWIW- (images from 4:21 am 4:36am) and for those wondering why my time stamp is 3:59- its because I deleted a previous post ,

It looks like every fire just double+! Sad day for the BWCA and Quectico.

I really want to go to Kawnipi and the Hanson, Ester, cherry area. Alas, didn’t make it in time. :-(

So do we think Ester, Gigikiki, Lake of the Clouds are fried? I sure hope not.

Duluth radar is picking up foreign objects (not rain) that is likely ash particles etc just downstream (SE) of the Dark/Beartrap fire. Not good.
This may disappear with sun up as radar does crazy things when the sun rises and sets with such odd things reflecting energy back that are not hydrometeors.



DLH radar loop

The smoke has hit Duluth, big time.

The air quality is horrible and it looks like looking at a sepia tone picture outside.

The smell is intense.

can you post satellite of Canada fires so we can see them all together?

Hey Mocha,

This site is easy to use and functions much like google earth. So you can pan around and see the Canadian fires easily.

https://firemap.live/

Mike

northerncanoe: "The smoke has hit Duluth, big time.


The air quality is horrible and it looks like looking at a sepia tone picture outside.


The smell is intense.


"

I'm sitting in my back yard in Toronto and smelling smoke. Also, I look out my window and everything is bronze in colour.

WhiteWolf: "I hope Google Maps estimation from satellite is off for Dark/Beartrap fire -- as it shows 246 sq KM burned compared to 55 sq km from last update yday. REALLY HOPE Google Maps is Wrong!!! as 246 sq km = 61000 acres.



This fire - though- seems to have maintained it's force over night on satellite. Last night it did not. But these unconventional satellite channels are very hard to interpret because they very rarely get used for this purpose. How often does one look at fires at night from a satellite in the Upper Midwest? It does appear that clouds just moved out of the area- allowing a stronger return of white pixels, but that is a strong return. Take it FWIW- (images from 4:21 am 4:36am) and for those wondering why my time stamp is 3:59- its because I deleted a previous post ,




"

I have sickening feeling that the much larger estimate from Google Maps (uses satellite) is going to be closer than y-days 13500- acres -- so sad.

The last thing on the WGN Chicago area weather forecast this morning she mentioned the wildfires up north in boundary waters and the smoke that is forthcoming to our area. Don't remember that before, sounds bad.

northerncanoe: "Hey Mocha,


This site is easy to use and functions much like google earth. So you can pan around and see the Canadian fires easily.


https://firemap.live/


Mike"

fire map

maybe rain tomorrow? Hope so

Looks like new fires, small, thankfully, reported at Poplar Lake and Crescent Lake.

Fire plume on radar just went out in last 10-15 minutes. Hopefully a good sign - but it could from other things than just the obvious (fire losing mojo) -- like DLH NWS changing radar tilt and power ( but I don't think so) or real radar echoes from rain getting in the way and absorbing the radar beam ( possible). But lets look at it like a good sign.

If radar trends can hold- the area most in need may see some rainfall later this PM.

Mocha: "can you post satellite of Canada fires so we can see them all together?"

Satellite today for viewing of fires will be tough with thick cloud cover and hopefully rain.

Thin blanket of ash on everything this a.m. in Ely & Babbitt. Very hazy right now, looks kinda spooky. Obviously, air quality is horrendous.

How are these new fires being started. I was told the other ones were started from lightning, as far as I can tell there haven't been any tstorms up there lately that would have had lightning.
How does lightning start a forest fire, seems to me a lot of elements come into play. Does it hit a dead tree and spread from there. It has to be like the perfect storm, pardon the expression. And why is the BW/ Quetico area so susceptible to these big destructive fires.

Looks like the fire in Canada jumped into the US in the area of Knife Lake and Ottertrack Lake. It has burned south to the south arm of Knife Lake and Eddy Lake.

scat: "How are these new fires being started. I was told the other ones were started from lightning, as far as I can tell there haven't been any tstorms up there lately that would have had lightning.
How does lightning start a forest fire, seems to me a lot of elements come into play. Does it hit a dead tree and spread from there. It has to be like the perfect storm, pardon the expression. And why is the BW/ Quetico area so susceptible to these big destructive fires."

Lightning on July 6th or thereabout.
Not as perfect a situation you would think.
May rain after LTG strike , but sometimes can smolder for weeks and viola, a weather regime comes that is conducive for spreading of fire. It doesn't take much, just like a campfire that is not totally put out.
Why?- because of the fuel load and difficulty once a fire is going in fighting it based on the obvious remoteness, other factors also.