BOUNDARY WATERS CLOSED HOW TO

The dry conditions, coupled with strong winds led to the fire doubling in size overnight, Eagle said. So far this year, the area has only gotten 13.71 inches of precipitation, she said, 7 inches below the average.

Lack of rain, dry underbrush fueled firesĪ lack of rain this spring and summer have created a drought for the majority of Minnesota, and along with less snow than normal last winter has created perfect conditions for wildfires to start and spread.ĭry grasses and underbrush are serving as tinder for the Greenwood Fire, said Karen Eagle, a senior meteorologist for the National Weather Service Duluth office. 'It's very close to the Boundary Waters, but at a lower risk of fire right now,' she said. And for those considering a last-minute trip, she recommended staying within the Wisconsin Northwoods. 'But I think people understand the magnitude of the drought situation right now and that it's been building over the summer.'įor those with trips already booked to the Boundary Waters area, Koele suggests checking to ensure that their campsites and other activities aren't impacted by the fire or the firefighting efforts. 'The Boundary Waters Canoe Area wilderness is a heavy recreation area, and obviously that is their livelihood, and coming off the pandemic, people are really nervous about the impacts associated with the closure areas,' she said. One of the biggest impacts will be to the outfitters and other businesses that thrive during the heavy tourism months of the summer.

Koele recently returned from Minnesota, where she helped to keep the community and travelers informed on conditions within the park.

BOUNDARY WATERS CLOSED HOW TO

'Wisconsin has been very fortunate to receive rain, so we're able to send a lot of resources right now to assist them with what's going on,' she said.įirefighters on the ground are currently helping with some fire mitigation, including digging trenches, clearing brush, protecting structures and spraying water, as well as advising homeowners on when they need to evacuate or how to keep their home or business safe from the fires. Usually, fire season in Minnesota would be in the spring, just like it is in Wisconsin. Koele said it isn't typical to dispatch firefighters to another state within the Great Lakes region, especially during the summer months. Those dispatched to help battle blazes will stay there for two weeks before heading back to Wisconsin, and another team will be dispatched. Other areas if directed by fire personnel.Cross-Country Camping Zones 8, 9, 10, 11, 34, 35, 36 are closed for camping as well as cross-country day use.Tobin Harbor Dock (with the exception of the seaplane dock for the concessions seaplane operation as conditions allow).Mount Franklin Trail between the Greenstone Ridge Trail and the Tobin Harbor Trail (the 1/2 mile section of the Mount Franklin Trail between the Tobin Harbor Trail and Rock Harbor Trail will remain open as conditions allow).Greenstone Ridge Trail East of Mount Franklin Junction.The following areas on Isle Royale were closed as of Aug. Planes were being used to ferry water over the fire in the hopes of extinguishing some of it, reported. The fire was burning so intensely over the weekend that it was picked up by satellites, the National Weather Service in Marquette said. The fire, which started after a lightning strike, had already burned 200 acres, and the park service said Sunday on the Isle Royale National Park's Facebook page that the closures were necessary 'to maintain public health and safety' after the fire expanded over the weekend amid lingering drought conditions.

Boundary waters closed