Last Delta Lake Update - see West Zone Superior Fires for Future Updates

 Last Delta Lake Update - See West Zone Superior Fires for Future Updates


 Date: Thursday, July 29, 2021 12:00 p.m.

East Zone Fire Information: 218-386-2750 or the Superior National Forest website:  www.fs.usda.gov/superior

West Zone Fire Information: 218-214-7844 or 2021.westzone@firenet.gov  or online at InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/ or the Superior National Forest website: www.fs.usda.gov/superior                                      

Description: Minnesota’s forests and grasslands continue to be plagued by drought and are thus primed for an abnormally robust and problematic fire season. There are nine active fires on the Superior National Forest two on the East Zone (Gunflint and Tofte districts) and seven on the West Zone (Kawishiwi, LaCroix and Laurentian districts).

Delta Lake Fire: Fire crews have, after weeks of arduous work, managed to achieve an estimated 92% containment of the 62-acre Delta Lake Fire. Aircraft continue to monitor the fire; no smoke has been detected in the last few days. Suppression repair and mop up operations are on-going.

Phantom Creek & Bear Creek Fires: The 10-acre Bear Creek Fire is located north of Mud Creek Road. The 3.5-acre Phantom Creek Fire is north of Wolf Lake Road, on the east side of Lake Vermilion. Both fires are within the BWCA Wilderness. Fire crews have laid hose lines around the firmly established perimeter.

Fourtown Lake Fire: The Fourtown Lake Fire, located within the BWCAW in the current closure area, is 12 miles north of Ely. The fire was initially detected during a monitoring flight on July 25. Gusty winds and higher temperatures on Sunday spurred the fire’s growth to its current size. Aerial surveillance continued Monday and a fire crew was flown in to assess the perimeter. Access was a challenge given the location, and firefighters’ safety was and remains the top priority. Fire managers weighed several management alternatives and determined the best course of action was to conduct an aerial “burn-out” operation in order to lead the fire to a natural barrier in a controlled manner. The weather window for such an operation was relatively brief, but Tuesday’s weather conditions were favorable for the mission.  This plan to remove fuel and create a holding line was executed successfully.  Crews on the ground will be strengthening this firebreak by removing vegetation and putting down hose lines. Monitoring this fire by air will continue.

Other Superior West Zone Fires:  The Sundial South Fire, detected on July 21, still shows smoke and is currently being monitored, though not staffed. This area is particularly inaccessible to fire crews due to the remote location and hazardous fuels.

Two new fires were recently discovered: The Ima Fire is approximately five miles east of Snowbank, and the Slowfoot Fire is located one mile southeast of the Delta Fire. Two firefighters were in-place yesterday to assess the Ima Fire. The Slowfoot Fire will be continuously monitored, but not staffed.  Any new starts in these areas will be fully suppressed by available initial attack provided by the team and local resources. 

East Zone Fires: The Agamok Fire is located .25 miles east of the Kekekabic Trail in the BWCAW. It is currently 1-acre. Yesterday crews completed laying hose around the fire. The Beth Fire is about three miles SW of Sawbill Lake in the BWCAW. The fire is 2-acres in size and 20 percent contained. Aircraft dropped water on it yesterday morning which helped suppress the fire while crews continued mop up. In the early afternoon firefighters were pulled off both fires due to the severe storms passing through northern Minnesota. Crews will continue responding when conditions are safe. 

Canada Fires:  The Quetico Provincial Park has several fires burning north of the international border from the BWCAW.  Three of the fires have the potential to spread across the border into areas near Crooked and Iron Lakes.  The Superior National Forest continues to monitor and assess these fires daily. 

Air Operations: Two Fire Bosses (fixed-wing aircraft) are committed to the Forest to perform water drops as needed.  Flying drones over the fire is prohibited. Air operations will stop if drones are detected in the area.