As fires have torn apart northern Minnesota, a meeting with the U.S. Forest Service will take place this evening, updating residents on the state's largest active fire and the efforts to control them.
Currently, two major fires are burning in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The Greenwood fire remains at 14 square miles, and the John Ek fire covers a little more than 1 square mile.
At the moment, nine fires in total are tearing across the top of the state, resulting in a closure of the Boundary Water Canoe Area for the first time in 45 years. For many familiar with the area, the impact is being felt by everyone.
"On our business certainly that is an impact when we close the boundary waters. On our visitors, it's an impact when you've planned your trip a whole year in advance, and now you can't make it," Forest Supervisor Connie Cummins shared. "These fires are an impact on our employees. We have people from all over the country that have come in to help us over a very long period of time."
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The other worry Cummins shared was for visitors as they work to ensure that no one is left in harm's way. Dozens of rangers have been paddling through the BWCA, informing campers that they need to go.
Loggers have also been working to slow the spread of the fires; airplanes and heavy equipment have been focusing on human safety, structure protection, and long-term fire tactics.
"We will look at this daily and reevaluate it, and for now, it's seven days out," Cummins shared. "Depending on what we find, we may not open all of the closure areas; we may start to look at particular areas that we feel are safe enough that we would reopen again."
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Camping outfitters and other businesses that rely on campers have been struggling with the pandemic, and now fires have made it an even tougher season.
Claire Shirley, who owns Sawbill Canoe outfitters just north of Tofte, shared that things have not been normal.
"Things have been a little crazy. We're dealing with a lot of cancelations, answering a lot of phone calls," she said. "But generally, we're safe."
Shirley shared that the people are feeling on edge, but the Forest Service has done a good job keeping everyone in the community involved.
As of now, the fight to put the fires out continues, and the Forest Service will continue to update the community as the forests continue to stay ablaze.
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