{"id":25975,"date":"2026-07-14T13:24:18","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T18:24:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mnics.org\/wpress\/?p=25975"},"modified":"2026-07-14T13:28:19","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T18:28:19","slug":"superior-national-forest-wildfires-fact-sheet-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mnics.org\/wpress\/superior-national-forest-wildfires-fact-sheet-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Superior National Forest Wildfires Fact Sheet"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
July 2026 Superior NF Wildfires Facts Sheet, Tuesday, July 14, 2026, 12:30 pm<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
MNICS Fire Information: 218-881-2091 (8:00 am\u20138:00 pm), 2026.JulyLightningEvent@firenet.gov <\/span>https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/mnics.org<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
Evacuations-All Three Forest Counties<\/strong><\/div>\n
The forest and counties are coordinating public safety evacuations.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Lake County Emergency Management<\/strong> has initiated the \u201cGO\u201d 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<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
St Louis County<\/strong> has implemented the Ready-Set-Go Notification System. Areas around the Sioux Fire (Superior NF management), and Marian Creek, Ridge, Beaver Tail, Coffin and Echo 2 Fires (MNICS management) are under evacuation statuses. <\/span>https:\/\/sheriff-slcgis.hub.arcgis.com\/pages\/wildfire<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n

Cook County<\/strong> has implemented Ready-Set-Go for Ontario\u2019s FOR028 wildfire for a northern portion of the Gunflint Trail area. https:\/\/cookcountymn.maps.arcgis.com\/…\/index.html…<\/span><\/p>\n

To sign up for emergency alerts, sign up at the county websites.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
Closures & Fire Restrictions<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
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.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
Key Message<\/strong><\/div>\n
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.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Wildfires<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
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\u2013the Bear Trap Fire and the Thumb Fire. The forest is coordinating with Canadian Authorities.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The Minnesota Incident Command Team (MNICS) is managing 10 of the wildfires: Creek, Chub, Camp 5\/Duck, Bug Creek, Ridge, Coffin, Marion Creek, Beaver Tail, Echo 2, and the Nine Fire. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is assisting with suppression activities within the forest. Quetico Provincial Park and Ontario also have numerous fires. Information on the Ontario fires: <\/span>https:\/\/www.lioapplications.lrc.gov.on.ca\/ForestFireInformationMap\/index.html?viewer=FFIM.FFIM\/<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Non-Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Wildfires (14)<\/strong><\/div>\n
\u2022 NEW-Birch Island started 7\/13\/2026. Size\u2013.25 acres. Location\u2013Snowbank Lake. Cause: Under Investigation.<\/div>\n
\u2022 Camp Fire started 7\/7\/2026. Size\u20132,200 acres. Location\u20135 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.<\/div>\n
\u2022 Sioux Fire started 7\/9\/2026. Size\u2013approximately 3,516 acres. Location\u2013North 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.<\/div>\n
\u2022 Buck Fire started 7\/13\/2026. Size\u20131 acre. Location\u2013East of Trout Lake. Cause: Under Investigation.<\/div>\n
\u2022 Echo 2 Fire started 7\/8\/2026. Size \u2013 14 acres. Location \u2013 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.<\/div>\n
\u2022 Beaver Tail started 7\/9\/2026. Size \u2013 12 acres. Location \u2013 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.<\/div>\n
\u2022 Chub Fire started 7\/9\/2026. Size \u2013 81 acres. Location \u2013 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\u2019s edge, secure and improve estimated containment lines, and work on mop up.<\/div>\n
\u2022 Ridge Fire started 7\/9\/2026. Size \u2013 6 acres. Location \u2013 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.<\/div>\n
\u2022 Creek Fire started 7\/9\/2026. Size \u2013 3.3 acres. Location \u2013 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.<\/div>\n
\u2022 Marion Creek started 7\/9\/2026. Size \u2013 1.2 acres. Location \u2013 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.<\/div>\n
\u2022 Nine Fire started 7\/9\/2026. Size \u2013 5.3 acres. Location \u2013 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.<\/div>\n
\u2022 Camp 5\/Duck Fire started 7\/9\/2026. Size \u2013 .6 acre. Location \u2013 North of Elephant Lake. Minimal to no fire activity was detected. Aircraft will monitor the area for heat and smoke daily.<\/div>\n
\u2022 Bug Creek Fire started 7\/9\/2026. Size \u2013 0.1 acre. Location \u2013 South of Chub Lake. Little to no fire activity was detected. Aircraft will monitor the area for heat and smoke daily.<\/div>\n
\u2022 Coffin Fire started 7\/9\/2026. Size \u2013 0.1 acre. Location \u2013 Northwest of Echo Lake. Aircraft will continue to monitor the area daily for heat and smoke<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Wildfires (3)<\/div>\n
\u2022 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\u2013South of Lac La Croix, 20 miles N of Ely. Status\u2013Extreme 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.<\/div>\n
\u2022 Wolfpack Fire (BWCAW) started 7\/9\/2026. Size\u2013Approximately 2,234 acres. Location\u2013Southeast of Wolfpack Lake. Status\u2013Remote location with difficult access. Aircraft are conducting suppression.<\/div>\n
\u2022 Thumb Fire (BWCAW) started 7\/7\/2026. Size\u2013Approximately 12,327 acres. Location\u2013remote & 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.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
Press Briefing<\/strong><\/div>\n
A press briefing will be announced later today for a 1pm briefing tomorrow in Ely. Stay tuned.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
Background<\/strong><\/div>\n
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\u2011forest firefighting resources are conducting suppression on these fires. With warm and dry summer conditions, additional wildfires are being detected daily.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
National Weather Service Forecast<\/strong><\/div>\n
Today\u2013 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\u2013Widespread 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\u2013 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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
An Air Quality Alert has been issued for Tuesday\u2013Thursday due to the wildfire smoke. Anticipate heavy smoke \u201cVery Unhealthy\u201d settling during the evening hours over the communities of Ely and east across the forest.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
Air Operations<\/strong><\/div>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\n
\n

Inciweb: https:\/\/inciweb.wildfire.gov\/incident-information\/mnsuf-july-2026-superior-nf-wildfires.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n

Superior National Forest Alert\u2019s & Facebook: https:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/r09\/superior\/alerts<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
& <\/span>https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SuperiorNF<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

July 2026 Superior NF Wildfires Facts Sheet, Tuesday, July 14, 2026, 12:30 pm MNICS Fire Information:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":205,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25975","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-incidents"],"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mnics.org\/wpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25975","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mnics.org\/wpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mnics.org\/wpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mnics.org\/wpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/205"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mnics.org\/wpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25975"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/mnics.org\/wpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25975\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25978,"href":"https:\/\/mnics.org\/wpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25975\/revisions\/25978"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mnics.org\/wpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25975"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mnics.org\/wpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25975"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mnics.org\/wpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25975"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}