REGIONAL- The Superior National Forest has closed a large area around Shell Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness due to a small wildfire discovered earlier this week. The closure was issued on Oct. 8 and remains in effect until further notice.
SNF Supervisor Tom Hall has prohibited visitor entry on Agawato Lake, one campsite on Agawato Lake, two campsites on eastern end of Shell Lake, and the loop portion of the Sioux-Hustler Trail. The entry point to Devil’s Cascade on the trail is still open.
The SNF has also posted alerts for Boundary Waters visitors at entry points 14 and 15 on the Echo Trail and alerted co-operators and outfitters of the fire activity.
The Shell Lake Fire is approximately a half-acre in size and is currently burning in timber with a mixed boreal forest component. It is suspected to be human caused; however, an official fire investigation has not occurred yet.
An initial size-up of the fire from aircraft showed the fire was creeping, smoldering, and occasionally torching single trees. The fire has the potential to spread toward both the east near Agawato Lake and a portion of the Sioux-Hustler Trail, a roughly 35-mile hiking trail in the far northwestern portion of the 1.1 million-acre BWCAW.
Northern Minnesota is in the midst of a flash drought as many parts of the region have seen less than a half inch of rain over the past six weeks, along with record warm temperatures. The conditions have created prime conditions for wildfire, although the area has avoided any major blazes to date.
Federal and state firefighters have responded to several wildfires in recent days. A smoky fire along a powerline in Vermilion Lake Township burned about four acres late last week and required firefighters to spend days rooting out hotspots from dry peat soils. The Minnesota DNR, Minnesota Conservation Corps and the Vermilion Lake Volunteer Fire Department all responded to the incident.
The availability of firefighting suppression resources, including personnel and equipment, is limited due to large wildfires still occurring in western states as well as the dispatch of firefighting resources supporting hurricane response efforts in eastern states. The National Preparedness Level was increased to 5, the highest level, on Oct. 8.
The map of the closure area and the official closure notice are on the USFS website at fs.usda.gov/alerts/superior/alerts-notices/ — click on the Shell Lake link on the right side of the webpage.