Single Publication

Horse River Wildfire Fire Update -May 27, 2025

Fire Information: 218-432-0953, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/mnsuf-horse-river-fire

Horse River Fire Quick Facts 

Size: 9 acres                Location: E. of the Horse River, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

Containment: 0%                  Cause: Lightning                                Resources: Aircraft and 8 firefighters 

Start Date: May 22, 2025

NOTE-Beginning tomorrow morning, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, a National Incident Management Organization (NIMO) team will be taking command at 7:00 a.m. of the Horse River Fire and the Jenkins Creek Fire. 

Planned Operations: Eight firefighters are on the fire, assessing different strategies for confining the fire with natural features on the landscape. Additional firefighter modules are arriving today and will receive canoe training before paddling to the fire area. The fire continues to creep and smolder. Firefighter and public safety remain the top priority, along with wilderness values, and cultural values. A new team of public safety wilderness rangers are paddling into the fire area today. 

National Weather Service Forecast: Today-A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 67. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Tonight- A 10 percent chance of showers before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Tomorrow-A 20 percent chance of showers after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph.

Closures: An Emergency Forest Closure Order is in process to close the Winter Route Trail (mushing trail) between Jackfish Bay and Lower Basswood Falls. Paddlers in the area are advised to stay away from the area for their own safety. Currently, Basswood River and Horse River travel routes are open. Campsites on the Basswood River are still open. For public safety, the public should move directly through the area and be aware that conditions could change. Continue to follow the fire’s Inciweb page for current incident fire details and updates.

Air Operations: Aircraft are available and may be brought in to help support the fire. A reminder - flying drones over the fire is prohibited. If drones are detected near the fire, any air operations supporting the fire will stop. Drones are illegal in federally designated wilderness areas. 

Overview: On May 22, 2025, aircraft detected smoke east of the Horse River, within a remote part of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Initial acreage was estimated at 5-10 acres, with 2-4’ flame lengths. Fire management staff identified the strike tree on a ridgetop where lightning struck, initiating the wildfire. The fire is burning in a mixed boreal forest with conifer (pine trees), and hardwood trees like birch and aspen. Blowdown is limited in the area. Ground access is very poor; safety of firefighters and the public are the top priorities.