Munger Shaw Fire Update for Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Munger Shaw Fire Quick Facts
Size: 1700 acres    Location: Elora, MN            
Containment: 0%    Cause: Under investigation         
Start Date: 05/12/2025                                                

Minnesota Incident Management Team A under Incident Commander Mike Hill took command of the Munger Shaw fire at noon today. 

Overview - The Munger Shaw fire was detected late in the afternoon on Monday May 12. Minnesota DNR along with local fire departments responded. Multiple aircraft were brought in to help slow down the active flame fronts, supporting the ground firefighting efforts. The fire is active in pine and lowland fuels. St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management are coordinating public safety efforts, including evacuations and road closures. Firefighters continue working to establish fire containment lines around the fire with heavy equipment and on-the-ground personnel. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

National Weather Service Forecast: The National Weather Service has lifted the Red Flag Warning for Minnesota, but any outdoor burning is still discouraged. The forecast for the fire area today calls for a high of 81F with a chance of showers between noon and 4 p.m. this afternoon and possible thunderstorms after 4:00 p.m. Relative humidity is at 69% and fluctuating.

Evacuations and Road Closures: St. Louis County Sheriff's Office Divisions of Emergency Management and 911 have a website hub with evacuation and other fire information and Ready-Set-Go map. St. Louis County is coordinating and enforcing road closures near the Munger-Shaw fire.

The public is asked to avoid the areas around the fire for their safety and the safety of fire personnel. Temporary flight restrictions are in place. No drones are allowed near any of the fire areas. 

Burning Restrictions: For current burning restrictions, see  https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/firerating_restrictions.html

Montana FWP has rescinded their closures for the Fish Trap Fishing Access Site and the Big Hole River, effective May 15th.  Both closures were in place for public safety during fire suppression operations.

BLM has rescinded the temporary closure of the Sawlog dispersed recreation area, effective May 15th. 

Incident Commander: Kyle Errecart (Type 4 IC), Tyler Baughman (Type 4 IC Trainee)
Location: 15 miles northeast of Wisdom, MT in the Sawlog Creek drainage
Start Date: 05/01/2025
Cause: Undetermined – under investigation
Size: 2,030 acres  
Resources Assigned: 1 crew; 2 engines; 1 helicopter; 1 water tender
Total Personnel: 89
Containment: 100%
 

CURRENT STATUS/PLANNED ACTIONS:
The Type 3 Incident Management Team has transferred command of the Sawlog fire to a Type 4 organization, under the direction of Incident Commander Kyle Errecart. Most resources no longer needed have demobilized and returned to home units.

The remaining resources will patrol the perimeter when presented with an opportunity to safely enter the fire area, given the recent weather and muddy access conditions. The Incident Command Post (ICP) at the Wisdom Airport will likely be dismantled by the end of today.

WEATHER, FUELS, AND FIRE BEHAVIOR:
The fire area received steady precipitation, including snow and rain, for most of yesterday. Measurable amounts of at least half an inch were reported in some locations. Today’s weather calls for cloudy and foggy conditions, with a 20% chance of precipitation. Temperatures will be in the 50s and relative humidity to 55%. Winds will be from the northwest at 5-15 mph, with gusts to 25 mph.

No smoke was visible on the fire yesterday. The fire burned mainly in sagebrush and Lodgepole pine timber. The north-facing slopes in the area consist of a high “dead and downed” fuel component in a mixed conifer forest, and numerous “snags” or hazard trees are present. Fuel conditions, during this time of year (pre-green up), are extremely dry.

CLOSURES:
For public safety reasons, the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Wisdom Ranger District, has issued a road and trail closure in association with the Sawlog fire suppression operations. Included in the closure are National Forest System (NFS) Road #8242, NFS Trail #2180, and a portion of NFS Trail #2099.

Closures for Montana Fish, Wildfire and Parks (FWP) for the Fishtrap Creek Fishing Access Site on the Big Hole River and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for the Sawlog dispersed camping site are still in place.

The Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over the fire area has been lifted.

Updates to closures, including the specific closure language and corresponding maps, can be viewed on the Sawlog Fire Inciweb page, Closures tab.

Duluth, MN. May 13, 2025 — Due to the ‘Brimson Complex’ fires (Camphouse & Jenkins Creek) on the Superior National Forest (SNF), Forest Supervisor Tom Hall has closed a portion of the Laurentian Ranger District with an Emergency Forest Order 09-09-25-05 Closure is effective as of May 13, 12:00 pm CT. The closure prohibits visitor entry at campsites, recreation sites, trails, roads and lakes.  See Forest Order Exhibit A for a list of closure areas and Exhibit B for a map of the area.  The closure may be modified or extended as conditions allow; check link for details. 

This Emergency Forest Closure Order 09-09-2025-05 applies to all listed trails, recreation sites and roads in Exhibit A within the area noted in Exhibit B Map.  The Forest Service has notified Recreation .gov reservation holders, concessionaires, and is encouraging those with reservations in the area to seek an alternate area of the Superior National Forest for similar experiences. We understand that this will impact our visitors, and communities near the restricted area. This emergency closure is necessary for the safety of our visitors, area residents and our firefighters. 

Duluth, MN. May 13, 2025 — Due to the ‘Brimson Complex’ fires (Camphouse & Jenkins Creek) on the Superior National Forest (SNF), Forest Supervisor Tom Hall has closed a portion of the Laurentian Ranger District with an Emergency Forest Order 09-09-25-05 Closure is effective as of May 13, 12:00 pm CT. The closure prohibits visitor entry at campsites, recreation sites, trails, roads and lakes.  See Forest Order Exhibit A for a list of closure areas and Exhibit B for a map of the area.  The closure may be modified or extended as conditions allow; check link for details. 

This Emergency Forest Closure Order 09-09-2025-05 applies to all listed trails, recreation sites and roads in Exhibit B within the area noted in Exhibit B Map.  The Forest Service has notified Recreation .gov reservation holders, concessionaires, and is encouraging those with reservations in the area to seek an alternate area of the Superior National Forest for similar experiences. We understand that this will impact our visitors, and communities near the restricted area. This emergency closure is necessary for the safety of our visitors, area residents and our firefighters. 

NEW BERN, N.C., May 14, 2025 – The Black Swamp Fire on the Croatan National Forest is now 77% contained and remains at 950 acres. An interagency team of 99 personnel are currently assigned to the fire.

In the last several days, the Black Swamp Fire area received just under 4” of rain in 36 hours. This precipitation has aided firefighters suppressing the fire, but pockets of heat remain. Today, firefighters are ground-truthing hotspots that were identified by infrared yesterday. With warmer weather incoming, hotspots pose a risk of creeping into drier fuels and burning more intensely. Firefighters will work to catch these sources of heat before they spread. 

Higher water levels in the canals will provide a water source for pumping water to the interior of the fire. These higher water levels will also seep into the soil and aid in raising the water table, helping achieve the overall goal of saturating the soil from both above and below. 

As roads dry, crews will also look for opportunities to utilize equipment to improve access as conditions allow.

The public is reminded to abide by all posted closures keeping firefighter and public safety in mind. Closures remain in effect for Black Swamp Road, the Black Swamp OHV area, Great Lake Boating Access Area and Sheep Ridge Wilderness Area, as well as portions of Great Lake Road, Seaborn Road and Holston Hunter Road.

For the latest wildfire updates, follow the National Forests in North Carolina on Facebook at U.S. Forest Service - National Forests in North Carolina or visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/northcarolina

Smoke from the fire can cause limited visibility and may impact local air quality. Please drive slowly and use caution on roads where smoke may be settling. Check for air quality alerts at https://airquality.climate.ncsu.edu/ or https://fire.airnow.gov.

The USDA Forest Service is working in close partnership with state and federal agencies, including the North Carolina Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission and the National Park Service.

5-14-25 Update: Conditions are favorable and ignitions are underway.

The Dolores Ranger District is planning to conduct a prescribed burn in the Boggy Draw area, approximately 6.3 miles Northeast of Dolores, starting Wednesday May 14th.

The area targeted sits on the eastern portion of Boggy Draw northeast of Forest Service System Road 257 A, and west of Road 527 (referenced in the attached map). The planned burn is on Unit 28, approximately 311 acres,  pending favorable conditions and smoke limitations. This will be done with hand ignitions, burning in ponderosa pine and Gambel oak understory.

Smoke is expected to be visible from the towns of Dolores and Mancos, as well as highways US-160, US-491, CO-145 and CO-184. Ignitions will not begin before 8:00 a.m. and will end by 7:00 p.m.