North Norris Fire
- Size: 79 Acres
- Detected: August 14, 2021
- Location: 2 miles north historic Norris Camp, Lake of the Woods County, Minn.
- Incident Management Team: MNICS Team B, Incident Commander Tom Roach
- Cooperating agencies: Minnesota DNR, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Red Lake Agency, Williams Fire Department, and Warroad EMS
Late in the afternoon of Saturday, August 14th, a wildfire was detected approximately 2-miles north of the historic Norris Camp in Lake of the Woods County, approximately 20 miles southwest of Roosevelt, Minnesota. Located within the Beltrami Island State Forest, the fire actively burned in heavy timber and brush. Several aircraft, including single engine air tankers, a large air tanker and a helicopter, were brought in to provide water and retardant drops to help slow the fire’s spread.
Square Fire
- Size: 87 Acres
- Detected: August 15, 2021
- Location:3 miles northwest of Graceton, Minn., Lake of the Woods County
- Incident Management Team: MNICS Team B, Incident Commander Tom Roach
- Cooperating agencies: Minnesota DNR, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Red Lake Agency, Williams Fire Department, and Warroad EMS
Early in the afternoon of Sunday, August 15th, a wildfire was detected actively burning in black spruce and bog. The fire was located in Lake of the Woods County, approximately 3 miles northwest of Graceton, Minnesota. Several aircraft, including single engine air tankers, CL-415 water scoopers and a helicopter were brought in to support the initial attack efforts delivering water and retardant drops to help slow the fire’s spread. Aircraft remained on the fire well into the evening. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The area where both fires were detected in Lake of the Woods County had been under extreme drought conditions since July 20, 2021. Concern for wildfires to take hold in areas of peat soil was high. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources ordered a Minnesota Incident Command System (MNICS) Type 3 Incident Management Team to assume management of both fires. The Team provided additional support through the coordination of personnel and equipment and allowed the local DNR area staff to focus on the initial attack for any potential new developing fires.
MNICS Team B, led by Incident Commander Tom Roach, assumed management of the fires on Monday, August 16th. Firefighting crews, including a 20 person Initial Attack hand crew from Ohio, and heavy equipment were utilized to construct and improve control lines around each fire. Aircraft, including two Minnesota Air National Guard Black Hawk helicopters, supported ground crew efforts through water drops that helped to cool hotspots and brought in moisture to dry soil. Aircraft drew from the Winter Road Lake. A third helicopter provided air traffic control between the Black Hawks and ground crews that helped assure safe communication air to ground.
Hot, dry, and windy weather conditions persisted during the initial days following the initial attack, with temperatures ranging in the low to mid-90s and south winds ranging 15 – 25 mph. A favorable weather system with precipitation moved through the area on August 20th. The North Norris fire received more than two inches of rain from the event, and the square fire received approximately one-half inch of rain.
Due to the amount of peat soil that continued to hold heat within the perimeter of the Square fire, containment efforts involved turning and mixing the soil with the top layer of soil that had received favorable moisture from air bucket water drops and recent precipitation. Timber resources that held heat in their root systems were also removed, and the heat was then extinguished by ground firefighters using water pumped in through hoses. Excavators, skidders, and dozers completed the work to turn the soils.
The North Norris was declared 100% contained on August 23rd and went into patrol and monitor status. The Square fire was declared 100% contained on August 24th. MNICS Team transitioned the management of both fires to a local DNR Incident commander and fire crew on Tuesday, August 24th.
Dozer equipment was valuable to establish a control line on the North Norris fire that burned in timber and brush. 
A J7 tracked vehicle is capable of delivering up to 300 gallons of water per trip to the fire line, which helped firefighters mop up smoldering hotspots on the North Norris fire. 
Persistent drought, warm, and windy conditions all contributed to the extreme fire conditions on August 14. North Norris fire behavior was driven by these conditions. 
Aircraft delivered water and fire retardant to slow the progression of the North Norris fire. 
The Minnesota Air National Guard Black Hawk helicopter supported both the North Norris and Square fire suppression efforts. 
The Minnesota Air National Guard Black Hawk helicopter supported both the North Norris and Square fire suppression efforts. 
Firefighters cool down hotspot with water within the perimeter of the North Norris fire. 
Portable water tanks, hose, and pump help to bring water closer to the wildfire. This tank is being filled from a near by ditch system. 
Firefighters extinguish smoldering heat on the North Norris Fire 
Managing tanks, pumps, and hose to assure water in available to ground crews extinguishing hotspots is critical to mop up efforts. 
J5 tracked vehicles are frequently used on fires like the Square fire due to their ability to move over difficult terrain and transport up to 100 gallons of water. 
Heavy equipment turned soil to mix cooler wetter soil to cool peat soil holding heat below on the Square fire.
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