Fire Information Line: 218-881-2091, 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Email: 2026.JulyLightningEvent@firenet.gov
Online: inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mnsuf-july-2026-superior-nf-wildfires
Quick Facts:
• Number of fires: 10
• Total acres: Approximately 150
• Total personnel: 70
Key Message: With critical fire weather conditions, extreme heat, and active fire behavior expected
today, firefighter and public safety will be the highest priorities as crews work under hot, dry, and windy
conditions. Firefighters will use a full suppression strategy where conditions allow, adapting tactics as
needed to maintain a safe and effective response.
Evacuations: St. Louis County has implemented the Ready. Set. Go. Notification system. Residents
should remain aware of current evacuation information and monitor official county communication
channels for updates at https://sheriff-slcgis.hub.arcgis.com/pages/wildfire.
To sign up for future evacuation and emergency alerts from the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, please
visit https://sheriff-slcgis.hub.arcgis.com/pages/northland-alert.
Fires are listed in order of priority to ensure the protection of people, property, and infrastructure.
- Echo 2 Fire started 7/8/2026. Size – 14 acres. Location – off the Echo Rapids Road, north of Echo
Lake. Increased fire activity yesterday and the fire grew from 9 to 14 acres. Crews worked
quickly yesterday on the ground and in the air and kept the fire from moving. Crews will
complete a dozer line around the fire and patrol the fire perimeter to ensure it remains
contained. - Beaver Tail started 7/9/2026. Size – 12 acres. Location – West of the Vermilion River. Active fire
activity yesterday; minimal growth. Firefighters made significant progress on the fire and
completed the hose line around the fire’s perimeter. Crews today will secure and improve
estimated containment lines and continue mop up. - Chub Fire started 7/9/2026. Size – 81 acres. Location – North of Chub Lake, southwest of Crane
Lake. Active fire behavior yesterday led to an acreage increase. Today, crews will continue a
dozer line to gain access to the fire edge. They will also 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. Today, crews will continue to reinforce containment and control lines
around the fire. - Creek Fire started 7/9/2026. Size – 3.3 acres. Location – Northwest of Chub Lake. Minimal fire
activity yesterday. Firefighters added hose line and began mop up yesterday. Today, crews will
secure and improve estimated containment lines. - Marion Creek started 7/9/2026. Size – 1.2 acres. Location – West of the Vermilion River. No
significant fire activity yesterday. Crews were able to access the fire yesterday and established
control lines. - Nine Fire started 7/9/2026. Size – 5.3 acres. Location – South of Echo Lake. Minimal fire activity
yesterday. Today, crews will continue to secure and improve established containment lines. - 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.
Weather: Sunny and hot, with a high of 100. Southwest winds 4-13 mph, increasing 10-16 mph in the
afternoon with gusts up to 26 mph. A Red Flag Warning is in effect today from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., a Fire
Weather Watch is in effect Tuesday afternoon through Tuesday evening, and a Heat Advisory is in effect
until 9 p.m. Tuesday.
Closures: All Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Wilderness (BWCAW) entry points are closed beginning
at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday due to extreme weather conditions and numerous wildfires burning in the
Superior National Forest and the BWCAW. Superior National Forest is canceling overnight paddle,
overnight, motor, overnight hiking and day-use motor reservations through Friday, July 17. For more
information, please visit: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/233396
Superior National Forest has already closed other areas of the BWCAW to protect the health and safety
of visitors due to active wildfires in the area. To view those active closures within the Superior National
Forest, please visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/superior/alerts
Fire Restrictions: Cook, Lake, and northern St. Louis counties have burning restrictions in effect until
further notice. Campfires are not allowed in backcountry, dispersed, or remote campsites on statemanaged, public, or local lands. For current Minnesota Department of Natural Resources fire
restrictions, please visit: www.mndnr.gov/burnrestrictions
Superior National Forest began forest-wide campfire restrictions on Sunday. Ignition, building,
maintaining, attending or using a fire or campfire, including charcoal grills and barbeques, coal, and
woodburning stoves within the Superior National Forest boundary, which includes Cook, Koochiching,
Lake, and St. Louis counties. For maps and additional information, please visit:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/superior/alerts