A PUBLIC MEETING will be held tonight at 6:00 pm for the Greenwood Fire with presentations from the Forest Service, Sheriff, and the Incident Command Team. The Forest Service will also address other wildfires and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness closure. The meeting will be held at the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center and will be broadcast live on the Superior National Forest Facebook page (click on “Facebook” to go to the site).
For the latest on the Greenwood Fire from the Superior National Forest Service, click HERE.
The Superior National Forest is closing the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) Wilderness, effective August 21, 2021, due to active and increasing fire activity, extreme drought, limited resources. The closure will be in place until Friday, September 3rd, and may be modified or extended as conditions allow.
This closure includes all lands, waters, trails, portages, campsite, canoe routes and Wilderness entry points in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The Forest has notified permit holders and outfitters and is cancelling permits today through August 27. Permit holders will be fully reimbursed. At this time, all overnight paddle, day use and motorized day use is cancelled. The Forest will reopen portions of the Wilderness and/or some uses when it is safe.
The Forest Service has a list of closures in place for the Greenwood Fire and other incidents in the area (click here). Beyond that, the Forest is open to the public. There are 254 backcountry campsites outside the wilderness that offer remote paddling, camping and fishing. Here you can experience solitude without reservations, fees or permits and still have a fire grate and latrine. Many backcountry campsites are located on canoe routes outside the BWCAW. State forests and parks and county lands are also available for recreation.
The Superior National Forest also offers 23 developed campgrounds and 18 rustic campgrounds. Rustic campgrounds are free of charge and available first come, first served year-round. Fee campgrounds are open May – September and may be reserved at Recreation.gov. See the Forest website for more information.
For more information on the closure, please see the BWCA Closure Order. Thank you for your cooperation. To see the full Forest order and other alerts go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/superior
FIRE INFORMATION: For Greenwood Fire information, visit Inciweb at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7805/ or call 218-499-9441. For all other fires on the Superior National Forest, please call 218-214-7844.
AIR QUALITY: The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an air quality alert effective until 3 p.m. on Friday, August 20, for the inland portion of Minnesota’s Lake County. For other areas go to: Air Quality Index webpage.
FIRE RESTRICTIONS: Fire restrictions are in place for the Superior National Forest and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for areas within state jurisdiction Cook and Lake Counties and northern St. Louis County.
Superior National Forest: Fire Restrictions Order and our Campfire Restrictions. See our FAQ for more information.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: MN DNR Wildland Fire Information
For Superior National Forest Closures visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/superior/alerts-notices
For Superior National Forest Fire Restrictions visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/superior/alerts-notices/?aid=67256
For MN DNR Fire Restrictions visit: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/index.html
Lake County Emergency Management at 773-844-6449. Sign up for emergency text alerts at www.co.lake.mn.us/emergency-mangement/.
Emergency Contact Phone Numbers:
Lake County Emergency Management: 773-844-6449
Greenwood Fire Public Information Line: 218-499-9441
Greenwood Fire Phone Line for Media Inquiries: 614-205-9333.
• USDA Forest Service
• Lake County
• Lake County Sheriff’s Office
• MN Department of Natural Resources
From the Superior National Forest Service, Duluth, MN, August 21, 2021
Updated on August 25, 2021
The Superior National Forest is closing the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, effective August 21, 2021, due to active and increasing fire activity, extreme drought, limited resources. The closure will be in place until Friday, September 3rd, and may be modified or extended as conditions allow.
This closure includes all lands, waters, trails, portages, campsite, canoe routes and Wilderness entry points in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The Forest has notified permit holders and outfitters and is cancelling permits today through August 27. Permit holders will be fully reimbursed. At this time, all overnight paddle, day use and motorized day use is cancelled. The Forest will reopen portions of the Wilderness and/or some uses when it is safe.
We understand that this will have a significant impact on our visitors, cooperators and communities near the forest. This emergency closure is necessary for the safety of our visitors, our wilderness rangers and our fire-fighters. It allows our fire crews to focus on responding to existing fires and new starts.
Northern Minnesota is facing severe to extreme drought conditions. Active and increasing fire across the landscape. Yesterday, the John Elk Fire grew from 3 acres to 1600 acres and the Whelp Fire grew from 30 acres to at least 80 acres. The Forest has ordered a Type 3 team to respond to the John Elk Fire. Although the Greenwood Fire is being managed by a Type 2 Eastern Area Incident Management Team, forest resources are working with and assisting the team with the 9,000-acre fire. There are additional fires on the Superior and Forest staff are responding to initial fire starts and monitoring fires that are in controlled status including the Bungee Fire, Fourtown Fire, Sundial Fire, Moose Lake Fire, and the Clara Fire. Additionally, the Forest is monitoring the fires in Canada, which continue to show movement towards to the US border. The Forest is coordinating with Ontario counterparts on these fires.
The Forest also has a closure in place for the Greenwood Fire. Beyond that, the Forest is open to the public. There are 254 backcountry campsites outside the wilderness that offer remote paddling, camping and fishing. Here you can experience solitude without reservations, fees or permits and still have a fire grate and latrine. Many backcountry campsites are located on canoe routes outside the BWCAW. State forests and parks and county lands are also available for recreation.
The Superior National Forest also offers 23 developed campgrounds and 18 rustic campgrounds. Rustic campgrounds are free of charge and available first come, first served year-round. Fee campgrounds are open May – September and may be reserved at Recreation.gov. See the Forest website for more information.
For more information on the closure, please see the closure order. Thank you for your cooperation.
This afternoon, August 20, the Greenwood Fire moved across Highway 2, crossing an area designated as a point for which evacuations would be triggered. The Lake County Sheriff’s Department coordinated evacuations in the vicinity of Jackpot, East and West Chub lakes, and Slate Lake. The fire spotted outside the west fire perimeter in an area to the southwest of Stony Lake. The fire paralleled Highway 2 before crossing the highway and moving nearly six miles to the north. There was substantial fire growth, the area of the fire is now estimated at 8,215 acres. As the front approaches, winds throughout the evening will be in the range of 20-25 mph; there is a possibility that occasional gusts may approach 50 mph around midnight. The best chance for precipitation will be in the early hours tomorrow morning. Winds will shift from the south – southwest to come out of the west – northwest as the weather front moves through the area. Winds associated with the weather front are likely to produce fire growth and movement of the fire. Strong winds will continue tomorrow. Night operations will emphasize patrolling and monitoring of the fire. Operations for tomorrow will emphasize fire fighter safety with the need to assess movement of the fire following the passage approaching weather front. Information regarding evacuations is available from Lake County Emergency Management at 773-844-6449. Sign up for emergency text alerts at www.co.lake.mn.us/emergency-mangement/.
Emergency Contact Phone Numbers:
Lake County Emergency Management: 773-844-6449
Greenwood Fire Public Information Line: 218-499-9441
Greenwood Fire Phone Line for Media Inquiries: 614-205-9333.
This is a photo of the extreme fire behavior.
The Greenwood fire’s rapid advancement underway on August 20, likely in the vicinity of Stony Creek
SUMMARY: The Greenwood Fire was detected on August 15, 2021, around 3 pm on the Laurentian Ranger District. The fire is near Greenwood Lake and approximately 15 miles southwest of Isabella, MN and estimated to be around 4,000 acres. Crews are responding with full suppression using ground resources and aircraft. The fire is threatening cabins, homes, and recreational sites. The cause of the fire is lightning.
WEATHER/FIRE BEHAVIOR: Warm weather continues through Friday. Today’s temperatures are expected to reach 90 degrees. Humidity is expected to be 35% with winds out of the south. Active fire behavior is expected again today.
SAFETY & EVACUATIONS: Lake County Sheriff’s office evacuation orders are in effect for McDougal Lake, Sand Lake, the Highway 2 corridor, and just north of Highway 1. For information regarding evacuations contact Lake County Emergency Management at 773-844-6449. You can sign up for emergency text alerts and calls from Lake County here: https://www.co.lake.mn.us/emergency-management. There is a Red Cross shelter at the Finland Community Center for those who have been evacuated. If you need shelter, you can contact the shelter manager at 425-677-5776.
CLOSURES:
• Hwy 2 is closed from Forest Hwy 11 to Hwy 1. Hwy 1 is closed from New Tomahawk Rd to Lankinen Rd.
• A Forest Service closure order is in place to protect public health and safety due to the Greenwood Fire. It extends across areas within the Kawishiwi, Laurentian, and Tofte Ranger Districts and a small portion of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. To see the full Forest order and other alerts go to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/superior
FIRE INFORMATION: For Greenwood Fire information, visit Inciweb at: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7805/ or call 218-499-9441. For all other fires on the Superior National Forest, please call 218-214-7844.
AIR QUALITY: The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an air quality alert effective until 3 p.m. on Friday, August 20, for the inland portion of Minnesota’s Lake County. For other areas go to: Air Quality Index webpage.
FIRE RESTRICTIONS: Fire restrictions are in place for the Superior National Forest and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for areas within state jurisdiction Cook and Lake Counties and northern St. Louis County.
Superior National Forest: Fire Restrictions Order and our Campfire Restrictions. See our FAQ for more information.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: MN DNR Wildland Fire Information
News – 08/19/2021
Incident Overview
The Greenwood Fire was detected on August 16th near Greenwood Lake on the Laurentian Ranger District. It is approximately 15 miles SW of Isabella.
Evacuations are in effect for McDougal Lake, Sand Lake, the Highway 2 corridor, and just north of Highway 1. The Lake County Sheriff visited approximately 75 dwellings in the vicinity and either notified residents of the evacuation area or left a notice on the door if no one was home. If you have been evacuated and need resources, please call Lake County Emergency Management at 773-844-6449. You can sign up for emergency text alerts and calls from Lake County here: https://www.co.lake.mn.us/emergency-management/
For Superior National Forest Closures visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/superior/alerts-notices
For Superior National Forest Fire Restrictions visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/superior/alerts-notices/?aid=67256
For MN DNR Fire Restrictions visit: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/index.html
Basic Information, Current as of 8/19/2021, 12:37:35 PM
Current as of: 8/20/2021, 9:09:34 AM
Incident Type: Wildfire
Cause: Lightning
Date of Origin: Sunday August 15th, 2021 approx. 12:00 AM
Location: T59N R10W Sec 31 10 miles SW of Isabella, MN
Incident Commander: Eastern Area IMT Type 2
Coordinates: 47.553 latitude, -91.648 longitude
Total Personnel: 253
Size: 4,734 Acres
Estimated Containment Date: Wednesday September 01st, 2021 approx. 12:00 AM
Fuels Involved: Timber (Grass and Understory)
Significant Events: Extreme wind driven runs with short range spotting and group torching. Resistance to control due to prolonged drought and heavy fuels.
Planned Actions: Continue to utilize aerial and ground resources to reduce fire spread. Strategies are constantly evolving to access and suppress fire on the ground in anticipation of expected fire behavior.
Projected Incident Activity: Fire will continue to spread north under current and expected weather conditions. Structures and critical power infrastructure will continue to be threatened near County Road 2, Stony Lake, McDougal Lake, and Highway 1. Spread to the south is limited due to wind and barriers to spread.
Remarks: Additional resources will continue to arrive throughout the day.
Weather Concerns: Potential for extreme weather to develop, due to increased forecasted winds. Hot and dry conditions with elevated fire behavior. Prolonged high fire dangers have caused extensive mop up in heavy fuels. Chance of precipitation with cooler temperatures for Friday evening into Saturday but higher winds on Saturday.
Greenwood Fire Update-August 19, 2021News – 1:37 hrs. ago
GREENWOOD FIRE UPDATE – AUGUST 18, 2021News – 1 day ago
Greenwood Fire & McDougal Lake Area ClosureClosure – 2 days ago
Greenwood Fire Fact Sheet 8/17/2021News – 2 days ago
• USDA Forest Service
• Lake County
• Lake County Sheriff’s Office
• MN Department of Natural Resources
The Greenwood Fire was detected on August 16th near Greenwood Lake on the Laurentian Ranger District. It is approximately 15 miles SW of Isabella. The fire is moving very quickly due to strong gusts of wind and dry vegetation and is estimated to be 4,000 acres.
Evacuations are in effect for McDougal Lake, Sand Lake, the Highway 2 corridor, and just north of Highway 1. The Lake County Sheriff visited approximately 75 dwellings in the vicinity and either notified residents of the evacuation area or left a notice on the door if no one was home. A Red Cross shelter is open at the Finland Community Center for those affected by the Greenwood fire wildfire evacuations. If you have been evacuated and need resources, please call Lake County Emergency Management at 773-844-6449.
You can sign up for emergency text alerts and calls from Lake County here:
https://www.co.lake.mn.us/emergency-management/
For Superior National Forest Closures visit:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/superior/alerts-notices
For Superior National Forest Fire Restrictions visit:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/superior/alerts-notices/?aid=67256
For MN DNR Fire Restrictions visit:
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/index.html
Current as of: 8/18/2021, 8:42:44 PM
Incident Type: Wildfire
Cause: Lightning
Date of Origin: Sunday August 15th, 2021 approx. 12:00 AM
Location: T59N R10W Sec 31 10 miles SW of Isabella, MN
Incident Commander: Eastern Area IMT Type 2
Coordinates: 47.553 latitude, -91.648 longitude
Total Personnel: 145
Size: 4,000 Acres
Estimated Containment Date: Wednesday September 01st, 2021 approx. 12:00 AM
Fuels Involved: Timber (Grass and Understory)
Significant Events: Running surface fire with single and group tree torching continuing. Resistance to control due to prolonged drought and heavy fuels.
Planned Actions: Continue to utilize aerial and ground resources to reduce fire spread, and strategies are being
built to access and suppress fire on the ground.
Projected Incident Activity: Fire will continue to spread north under current and expected weather conditions. Structures and critical power infrastructure will continue to be threatened near County Road 2, Stony Lake, McDougal Lake, and Highway 1. Spread to the south is limited due to wind and barriers to spread.
Remarks: Additional resources will continue to arrive throughout the day
Weather Concerns: Hot and dry conditions with elevated fire behavior. Prolonged high fire dangers have caused extensive mop up in heavy fuels. Chance of precipitation with cooler temperatures forecasted for the weekend.
GREENWOOD FIRE UPDATE – AUGUST 18, 2021 (News – 12 hrs. ago)
Greenwood Fire & McDougal Lake Area Closure (Closure – 1 day ago)
Greenwood Fire Fact Sheet 8/17/2021 (News – 2 days ago)
Greenwood Fire Fact Sheet (News – 2 days ago)
There will be a Pfizer Vaccination Clinic on Wednesday, August 11, 2021, 4:30 – 7:30 pm, at the Lakeview Clinic in Two Harbors, MN. This will be a walk-in event. There is no need to make an appointment.
Anyone under 18 years of age will need parental consent. Find a consent form online at co.lake.mn.us, and click on the COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics tab.
Forms will also be available at the clinic.
