Due to active and increasing fire activity, the Superior National Forest announced Saturday it would close the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Lake County, Minn.
This area is a popular tourist destination.
According to a Facebook post, the closure will be in place for at least seven days.
All lands, waters, trails, portages, campsite, canoe routes and Wilderness entry points in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness are included in the closure. Permits will be canceled through at least Aug. 27. Permit holders are being notified and reimbursed.
Additionally, all overnight paddle, day use and motorized day use is canceled.
“We did not make this decision lightly,” said the Superior National Forest. “We understand it will have significant impacts on business and our visitors. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.”
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According to another post, the ongoing Greenwood fire – which started Aug. 15 in the Laurentian Ranger District near Aurora, Minn. After a lightning strike – covered 9,067 acres as of Saturday and was not contained. It said the fire was spotted Friday afternoon outside the west perimeter in an area southwest of Stony Lake.
“This fire paralleled Highway 2 before crossing the highway and making a significant, four mile run to the north,” said the post.
From there, it basically doubled in size and triggered evacuations coordinated by the Lake County Sheriff’s Department in the vicinity of Jackpot, East and West Chub lakes, and Slate Lake.
According to the forest, operations staff will be in the field today to assess the growth of the fire. Heavy equipment and personnel are in the area to contain and suppress the fire. Crews will continue to assess structures for protection in new evacuation areas.
With minimal precipitation in the area this weekend, winds could exacerbate the fire further.
For information regarding evacuations contact Lake County Emergency Management at 773-844-6449. Emergency text alerts and calls from Lake County are also available here.
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