The U.S. Forest Service is closing public access to a large swath of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness because of multiple small wildfires and continued dry conditions.
Campfires are also banned throughout the popular wilderness area, effective Saturday, July 11.
At least a dozen small fires are burning in the BWCA. Many are in the northwest part of the wilderness, between Ely and Crane Lake, north of the Echo Trail and south of Lac LaCroix along the Canadian border.
The Forest Service is closing public access to areas around three of those fires: the Bear Trap, Thumb and Wolfpack fires. As a result, several popular entry points to the wilderness area are temporarily closed, including Angleworm Lake, Little Indian Sioux River North, Moose/Portage River North, Mudro Lake and South Hegman Lake.
Four trails are also closed: the Angleworm, Blandin, Herriman and Sioux Hustler Trails.
The Forest Service said it issued the closure order to protect public health and safety, for firefighters and the general public.
Several small wildfires were reported July 7, the day after a storm system moved across northeast Minnesota, bringing thunder and lightning but little precipitation. Several more fires have sprouted up in the days since.
They range in size from about a quarter acre to a little over two acres. At least two of the fires have been fully contained.
The Bear Trap and Thumb Fires both started on July 7 from single tree lightning strikes and are burning in remote sections of the wilderness that are difficult to access. Aircraft have made numerous water drops on both fires, as well as additional small fires in the area.
Firefighters are on the ground fighting fires that are easier to access, including the Camp Fire, which has burned about an acre north of Ely just outside the Boundary Waters wilderness boundary.
In addition to banning campfires, the Forest Service is prohibiting the use of stoves or grills fueled by charcoal or any type of wood in the Boundary Waters. Campers are allowed to use gas or propane cook stoves.
Forest officials remind people to be extremely careful with any potential source that could ignite a fire, including cigarette smoking, dragging chains, or riding ATVs or other recreational vehicles. They urge campers to keep any campfires outside the wilderness area small, and to make sure they are cold to the touch after they’re put out.
The Forest Service says it will continue to monitor conditions and make daily updates as needed.
