| Duluth, Minn., June 13, 2023—Due to continued dry conditions and worsening wildfire danger conditions, the Superior National Forest has issued an Emergency Forest Order – effective June 14 – restricting the igniting, building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire, including charcoal grills and barbeques, coal, and wood burning stoves to reduce the likelihood of a wildfire on the Superior National Forest, including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (Forest Order 09-09-23-02#). The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; St. Louis, Cook, Carlton, and Lake Counties; and the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, and Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa are also enacting campfire restrictions. The restrictions will go into effect beginning Wednesday morning (00:01) a.m., June 14, 2023. Campfires are allowed ONLY within Forest Service provided campfire structures (fire rings) at designated recreation sites, which include fee campgrounds with campfire structures designed/ installed by the Forest Service as well as designated campfire structures at U.S. Forest Service permitted Resorts, Recreation Residences, or Organizational Camps. A list of designated recreation sites, Resorts, Recreation Residences, or Organizational Camps where campfires are allowed, as shown on Exhibit A of the Forest Order, and a map of the area, as shown on Exhibit B of the Forest Order, available on the Superior National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/superior The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) designated campsites, no-fee rustic campgrounds, or dispersed/ backcountry campsites are under full restriction and are NOT exempt from this order. Gas or propane cook stoves are allowed throughout the Superior National Forest and are a safer option than campfires. These restrictions will continue until further notice. The potential for wildfire is high across all ownerships in Northern Minnesota at this time. It is extremely important that people area careful with campfires in areas where they are allowed. If you are in a location where you can have a campfire, consider if the conditions are right and if you need a fire. Be sure to keep your campfire small and put it out cold to the touch whenever you leave it. All campfires must be attended all times. For additional information regarding fire-related and/or forest closures and updates: see the Superior National Forest website www.fs.usda.gov/superior, the MN Department of Natural Resources https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/firerating_restrictions.html, the Minnesota Incident Command System website at www.mnics.org SNF Forest Orders are available here: https://bit.ly/SNFforestorders An advisory has been issued for Eastern Minnesota along with Wisconsin and Michigan for elevated fire risk effective Monday the 12th of June – https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/fuels_fire-danger/fuels_fire-danger.htm |
You must be logged in to post a comment.