Boundary Waters burning ban, closures announced amid fire danger
ELY, Minn. — With the driest September ever recorded in Minnesota recently concluded, this is no time for open fires in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Effective one minute past midnight Tuesday, Superior National Forest officials restricted the use of campfires, which include charcoal grills and barbecues as well as coal and woodburning stoves. Gas and propane cook stoves, which are advocated as a safer option, are still allowed during the ban. The restrictions will stay in place until further notice.
“We have seen warmer and dryer conditions across much of the Superior National Forest, especially within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. We want the recreating public to be safe as they enjoy the Forest,” Tom Hall, Superior National Forest supervisor, said in a news release announcing the ban.
In addition to the open fire ban, the forest service announced the reinstatement of travel restrictions to four lakes in the BWCA due to the ongoing Wood Lake Fire, which has burned 34 acres since it was first reported on Sept. 10. The fire, which was human-caused and remains under investigation, increased in size due to dry, windy conditions. Aircraft were used to drop water on the north side of the fire in recent days in an attempt to cool down some hot spots.
As a result of the recent spread, the Superior National Forest is reinstating the closure of Wood, Good, Hula and Indiana lakes and the connecting portages due to concerns for the public’s health and safety.
The closures come on the heels of a day when 39 Minnesota counties were under a red flag warning due to the unusually hot, dry conditions in several areas of the state.
Additional information can be found at fs.usda.gov/superior.
Related Articles
Yellowstone National Park to continue ‘limited search efforts’ for missing Minnesota man
Skywatch: A great mix of summer and autumn stars, with possibly a bright comet
DNR plan to update Minnesota public waters list prompts concern over farmland
Skywatch: Saturn is edgy
Smallmouth bass excursion on Lake of the Woods’ south shore offers action that’s hard to comprehend
Boundary Waters burning ban, closures announced amid fire danger
ELY, Minn. — With the driest September ever recorded in Minnesota recently concluded, this is no time for open fires in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Effective one minute past midnight Tuesday, Superior National Forest officials restricted the use of campfires, which include charcoal grills and barbecues as well as coal and woodburning stoves. Gas and propane cook stoves, which are advocated as a safer option, are still allowed during the ban. The restrictions will stay in place until further notice.
“We have seen warmer and dryer conditions across much of the Superior National Forest, especially within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. We want the recreating public to be safe as they enjoy the Forest,” Tom Hall, Superior National Forest supervisor, said in a news release announcing the ban.
In addition to the open fire ban, the forest service announced the reinstatement of travel restrictions to four lakes in the BWCA due to the ongoing Wood Lake Fire, which has burned 34 acres since it was first reported on Sept. 10. The fire, which was human-caused and remains under investigation, increased in size due to dry, windy conditions. Aircraft were used to drop water on the north side of the fire in recent days in an attempt to cool down some hot spots.
As a result of the recent spread, the Superior National Forest is reinstating the closure of Wood, Good, Hula and Indiana lakes and the connecting portages due to concerns for the public’s health and safety.
The closures come on the heels of a day when 39 Minnesota counties were under a red flag warning due to the unusually hot, dry conditions in several areas of the state.
Additional information can be found at fs.usda.gov/superior.
Related Articles
Yellowstone National Park to continue ‘limited search efforts’ for missing Minnesota man
Skywatch: A great mix of summer and autumn stars, with possibly a bright comet
DNR plan to update Minnesota public waters list prompts concern over farmland
Skywatch: Saturn is edgy
Smallmouth bass excursion on Lake of the Woods’ south shore offers action that’s hard to comprehend
Leave a Reply
More Stories
St. Paul teen pleads guilty in Frogtown robbery and fatal shooting
A St. Paul teen has admitted to the robbery and fatal shooting of a 24-year-old in St. Paul’s Frogtown neighborhood...
St. Mary’s remains unbeaten after rolling past Cathedral
LYNN — It was anything but perfect for St. Mary’s at times on Friday night at Manning Field but the...
Xaverian pulls off late stand to hand Central Catholic 28-20 loss
WESTWOOD — In a tale of two halves, Xaverian’s defense got the last laugh. After a Xaverian fumble gave Central...
Angie Craig, Joe Teirab spar on abortion, inflation, immigration in MPR debate
In a Minnesota Public Radio broadcast debate Friday ahead of the election for one of the state’s most hotly contested...
Battenfeld: Maura Healey saves Nibi the beaver, but still can’t solve migrant crisis
When it comes to saving a beloved beaver, Maura Healey is on top of it – even paying a personal...
Due to undisclosed ailment, Donald Glover cancels Childish Gambino tour, which included a stop at Xcel Energy Center
Citing an undisclosed ailment that requires surgery, Donald Glover announced Friday that the tour under his musical stage name Childish...