Superior National Forest Wildfires Fact Sheet

The forest and counties are coordinating public safety evacuations.

Lake County Emergency Management has initiated the “GO” for Hwy 16/Fernberg Corridor from the Garden Lake Bridge to the end of the Fernberg at Lake One. Evacuate immediately. A public shelter has been established at the Babbitt Municipal Building at 71 S Drive, Babbitt.https://experience.arcgis.com/…/page/Fire-Evacuation

Cook County has implemented Ready-Set-Go for Ontario’s FOR028 wildfire for a northern portion of the Gunflint Trail area. https://cookcountymn.maps.arcgis.com/…/index.html…

To sign up for emergency alerts, sign up at the county websites.

Superior National Forest has issued an Expanded BWCAW Closure Order to protect the health and safety of visitors and firefighters due to the wildfires. Forest-wide fire restrictions are also in effect.

Yesterday, extreme fire conditions occurred widespread across the entire forest. Most fires had wind-driven size growth and some spotting. With a Red Flag Warning, extreme heat, and active fire behavior expected today, firefighters and public safety will be the highest priorities as crews work under hot, dry, and windy conditions. Fire management anticipate another very high fire danger day today with increased fire activity and fire growth. Firefighters will use a full suppression strategy where conditions allow, adapting tactics as needed to maintain a safe and effective response. Smoke columns are visible from nearby communities.

Wildfires

Currently, the forest has 17 active wildfires, with 3 active fires inside the BWCAW and one new fire yesterday outside the BWCAW. Yesterday, two of the fires crossed the International border–the Bear Trap Fire and the Thumb Fire. The forest is coordinating with Canadian Authorities.

• NEW-Birch Island started 7/13/2026. Size–.25 acres. Location–Snowbank Lake. Cause: Under Investigation.

• Camp Fire started 7/7/2026. Size–2,200 acres. Location–5 miles north of Winton. Cause: Lightning. Status: Extreme fire behavior and large growth yesterday and some overnight. Evacuations in effect from this fire. Firefighters are conducting structure protection and suppression.

• Sioux Fire started 7/9/2026. Size–approximately 3,516 acres. Location–North of the Echo Trail and east of Jeanette Campground outside the BWCAW. Cause: Lightning. Status: Active with wind-driven spotting. Firefighters are utilizing structure protection.

• Buck Fire started 7/13/2026. Size–1 acre. Location–East of Trout Lake. Cause: Under Investigation.

• Echo 2 Fire started 7/8/2026. Size – 14 acres. Location – off the Echo Rapids Road, north of Echo Lake. Active fire activity yesterday. Crews effectively handled multiple instances of the fire crossing established control lines. Today, crews will continue working toward containing the fire.

• Beaver Tail started 7/9/2026. Size – 12 acres. Location – West of the Vermilion River. Active fire activity yesterday; minimal growth. Crews secured and improved estimated containment lines and mopped up. They will continue that work today and continue improving existing control lines and mopping up.

• Chub Fire started 7/9/2026. Size – 81 acres. Location – North of Chub Lake, southwest of Crane Lake. Yesterday, crews scouted the fire and developed backup strategies for attacking the fire. Crews today will continue a dozer line to access the fire’s edge, secure and improve estimated containment lines, and work on mop up.

• Ridge Fire started 7/9/2026. Size – 6 acres. Location – East of the Vermilion River. Minimal fire behavior yesterday. Crews will continue to reinforce and improve containment and control lines around the fire and work on mop up.

• Creek Fire started 7/9/2026. Size – 3.3 acres. Location – Northwest of Chub Lake. Minimal fire activity yesterday. Yesterday, crews secured and improved estimated containment lines and will continue that work today along with mop up.

• Marion Creek started 7/9/2026. Size – 1.2 acres. Location – West of the Vermilion River. No significant fire activity yesterday. Crews accessed the fire over the weekend and established control lines. Today, crews will continue to find access points to the fire and improve existing control lines.

• Nine Fire started 7/9/2026. Size – 5.3 acres. Location – South of Echo Lake. Minimal fire activity yesterday. Crews yesterday laid hose around the fire. Today, they will continue to secure and improve established containment lines and mop up.

• Camp 5/Duck Fire started 7/9/2026. Size – .6 acre. Location – North of Elephant Lake. Minimal to no fire activity was detected. Aircraft will monitor the area for heat and smoke daily.

• Bug Creek Fire started 7/9/2026. Size – 0.1 acre. Location – South of Chub Lake. Little to no fire activity was detected. Aircraft will monitor the area for heat and smoke daily.

• Coffin Fire started 7/9/2026. Size – 0.1 acre. Location – Northwest of Echo Lake. Aircraft will continue to monitor the area daily for heat and smoke

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Wildfires (3)

• Dark Fire/Bear Trap Fire, now known as the Bear Trap Fire, started 7/7/2026. Total size of combined fires: Approximately 12,896 acres. Location–South of Lac La Croix, 20 miles N of Ely. Status–Extreme fire behavior with crowning, torching and spotting. Fire crossed the international border and entered Canaday yesterday. Aircraft are dropping water on this fire on the US side.

• Wolfpack Fire (BWCAW) started 7/9/2026. Size–Approximately 2,234 acres. Location–Southeast of Wolfpack Lake. Status–Remote location with difficult access. Aircraft are conducting suppression.

• Thumb Fire (BWCAW) started 7/7/2026. Size–Approximately 12,327 acres. Location–remote & located 6 miles S of Gakijiwanong Anishnaabe Nation Canada. Cause: Lightning. Status Remote with difficult access. Active fire behavior. This fire has also crossed the Canadian Border and is in Canada. Aircraft continue to suppress the fire on the US side.

A press briefing will be announced later today for a 1pm briefing tomorrow in Ely. Stay tuned.

On the evening of July 6, 2026, a storm system moved through the area with lightning and little precipitation. The following day, several small wildfires were reported. Local and off‑forest firefighting resources are conducting suppression on these fires. With warm and dry summer conditions, additional wildfires are being detected daily.

Today– Widespread smoke, mainly after 2pm. Increasing clouds and hot, with a high near 95. West wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Tonight–Widespread smoke. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. Northwest wind around 5 mph, becoming calm in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph Tomorrow– Widespread smoke, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind, becoming north around 5 mph in the morning. There is a Hazardous Weather Outlook, Extreme Heat Warning, Air Quality Alert, Red Flag Warnings through Tuesday

An Air Quality Alert has been issued for Tuesday–Thursday due to the wildfire smoke. Anticipate heavy smoke “Very Unhealthy” settling during the evening hours over the communities of Ely and east across the forest.

Aircraft are supporting the fires. A reminder – flying drones over the fire is prohibited. If drones are detected near the fire, any air operations supporting the fire will stop. Drones are illegal in federally designated wilderness areas.