Inciweb: https:\/\/inciweb.wildfire.gov\/incident-information\/mnsuf-july-2026-superior-nf-wildfires
\nFacebook: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SuperiorNF & https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/mnics.org
\nFire Information: 218-881-2091 (8:00 am\u20138:00 pm), 2026.JulyLightningEvent@firenet.gov
\nBWCAW Closures\/Permittees: 218-235-4400 or 218-235-3113
\nMedia Inquiries: 231-878-0998
\nEvacuations: Please contact county or local law enforcement officials for information on evacuations.<\/p>\n
Superior National Forest | Evacuation Status<\/strong> St. Louis County: Initiated \u201cGO\u201d for portions of the Echo Trail from Big Lake up to the 200 Road near the Cook County: Remains at \u201cSET\u201d status at the end of the Gunflint Trail due to the Little Knife Fire. The Closures & Fire Restrictions<\/strong> Key Messages<\/strong> Wildfires<\/strong> Non-Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness wildfires<\/strong> Sioux Fire<\/strong> started 7\/9\/2026. Size\u2013approximately 7,368 acres. Location\u2013North of the Echo Trail and east Crescent Fire<\/strong> started 7\/14\/26. Size- .5 acre. Location- Island in Crescent Lake, Tofte. Human-caused. Birch Island<\/strong> (.25ac), Buck Fire (.1ac), are in patrol status.<\/p>\n Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness wildfires<\/strong> Bear Trap Fire<\/strong> started 7\/7\/2026. Total size of combined Bear Trap and Dark fires: Approximately Thumb Fire<\/strong> started 7\/7\/2026. Size\u201314,129 acres. Location\u2013remote & located 6 miles S of Minnesota Incident Command System managed wildfires<\/strong> Chub Fire<\/strong> started 7\/9\/2026. Size \u2013 337 acres. Location \u2013 North of Chub Lake, southwest of Crane Beaver Tai<\/strong>l started 7\/9\/2026. Size \u2013 12 acres. Location \u2013 West of the Vermilion River. Low to moderate Ridge Fire<\/strong> started 7\/9\/2026. Size \u2013 8 acres. Location \u2013 East of the Vermilion River. Minimal fire Creek Fire<\/strong> started 7\/9\/2026. Size \u2013 4 acres. Location \u2013 Northwest of Chub Lake. Minimal fire activity Marion Creek<\/strong> started 7\/9\/2026. Size \u2013 16 acres. Location \u2013 West of the Vermilion River. No significant Nine Fire<\/strong> started 7\/9\/2026. Size \u2013 5.4 acres. Location \u2013 South of Echo Lake. Minimal fire activity Camp 5\/Duck Fire<\/strong> started 7\/9\/2026. Size \u2013 4 acres. Location \u2013 North of Elephant Lake. Minimal to no Bug Creek & Coffin Fires<\/strong> started 7\/9\/2026. Size \u2013 0.2 acre. Aircraft and firefighters continue to verify Canadian managed wildfires<\/strong> Background<\/strong> National Weather Service Forecast<\/strong> Safety Messages<\/strong> Inciweb: https:\/\/inciweb.wildfire.gov\/incident-information\/mnsuf-july-2026-superior-nf-wildfires Facebook: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SuperiorNF & https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/mnics.org Fire Information: 218-881-2091 (8:00 am\u20138:00 pm), 2026.JulyLightningEvent@firenet.gov BWCAW Closures\/Permittees: 218-235-4400<\/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-25990","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\/25990","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=25990"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mnics.org\/wpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25990\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25995,"href":"https:\/\/mnics.org\/wpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25990\/revisions\/25995"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mnics.org\/wpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25990"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mnics.org\/wpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25990"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mnics.org\/wpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25990"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nLake County: Initiated the \u201cGO\u201d for Hwy 16\/Fernberg Corridor from the Garden Lake Bridge to the end of the
\nFernberg at Lake One due to the Camp Fire. Evacuate immediately. A temporary evacuation site has been
\nestablished at the Babbitt Municipal Building at 71 S Drive, Babbitt (hours may vary).<\/p>\n
\nSioux Fire. Other areas are under \u201cSET\u201d evacuation notice for Marian Creek, Ridge, Beaver Tail, Coffin and
\nEcho 2 Fires<\/p>\n
\nMidtrail area of the Gunflint Trail west of Hungry Jack Lake Rd. and the northern parts of the townships of
\nSchroeder, Tofte, and Lutsen have moved into “READY” status.<\/p>\n
\nSuperior National Forest has issued an Expanded BWCAW Closure Order to protect public and firefighter
\nhealth and safety. The BWCAW permit issuance is being evaluated daily with notifications to permittees 4-days
\nprior to permit entry date. Forest-wide fire restrictions are also in effect.<\/p>\n
\nThe forecast for erratic weather, shifting winds and the potential for isolated damaging wind gusts and
\nthunderstorms will be a challenge for firefighting efforts. Approximately 13,000 lightning strikes were detected
\nwith the storms that moved through the area this morning. New fires may be detected as the sun comes out.
\nBefore the rain, crews in some areas saw as many as five trees fall across the Echo Trail in the span of 1\/2 hour.
\nHeavy smoke has impacted air operations, making it difficult to track the perimeter of some of these fires. Over 500 firefighters and support personnel are involved in these fires, with additional resources arriving daily. In addition, over 16 state and local fire departments are involved in the firefighting efforts.<\/p>\n
\nCurrently, the forest has 16 active wildfires, with 3 active fires inside the BWCAW. Some fires have merged.
\nWhen that happens, the fire is given the name of one of the fires. This also changes the number of fires that are reported here.<\/p>\n
\nCamp Fire<\/strong> started 7\/7\/2026. Size\u20132,886 acres. Location\u20135 miles north of Winton. Cause: Lightning.
\nStatus: Extreme fire behavior and some growth yesterday and overnight. Evacuations in effect from this
\nfire. Firefighters are conducting structure protection and suppression with day and night shifts.<\/p>\n
\nof Jeanette Campground. Portions of the fire are burning in BWCAW. Extreme fire behavior and some
\ngrowth yesterday and overnight. Firefighters are utilizing structure protection, including around the
\nMeander Lake communication site and generator. The fire crossed Echo Trail near the Little Indian
\nSioux River. Cause: Lightning.<\/p>\n
\nContained and will continue to monitor.<\/p>\n
\nLittle Knife<\/strong> started 7\/15\/2026. Size- estimated at 6,000 acres (US side). Smoke has hampered visibility
\nfor mapping purposes. Location- heat detection mapping showed growth as far south as Ogishkemuncie
\nLake. The fire has burned a total of 30,000 acres.<\/p>\n
\n13,500 acres. Location\u2013South of Lac La Croix, 20 miles N of Ely. Status\u2013Extreme fire behavior with
\ncrowning, torching and spotting. Fire crossed the international border and entered Canada and has
\npushed to within 1\/2 mile of the Echo Trail.<\/p>\n
\nGakijiwanong Anishnaabe Nation Canada. Cause: Lightning. Status Remote with difficult access. Active
\nfire behavior. This fire has crossed the Canadian Border. Aircraft continue to suppress the fire on the US
\nside as conditions allow.<\/p>\n
\nEcho 2 Fire<\/strong> started 7\/8\/2026. Size \u2013 16.4 acres. Location \u2013 off the Echo Rapids Road, north of Echo
\nLake. Moderate fire activity yesterday. Firefighters will continue to improve containment lines and
\nsearch for and extinguish any found heat.<\/p>\n
\nLake. The fire was less active yesterday and crews utilized a dozer to establish control and contingency
\nlines. Today firefighters will continue to improve dozer lines and handlines around the fire\u2019s perimeter.<\/p>\n
\nfire activity yesterday. A control line has been established along the entire perimeter of the fire. Crews
\nwill search for and extinguish any found heat.<\/p>\n
\nbehavior yesterday. Crews will continue to reinforce and improve containment and control lines around
\nthe fire and cool any hot spots found.<\/p>\n
\nyesterday. Firefighters continue to strengthen and improve control lines with crews and equipment.<\/p>\n
\nfire activity yesterday. Crews established dozer line around the fire. Today, firefighters will work to
\nimprove the control lines and install hose lines.<\/p>\n
\nyesterday. Firefighters continue to mop up and to search for an extinguish any found heat.<\/p>\n
\nfire activity was detected. A dozer will work to improve control lines around the Camp 5 Fire today.<\/p>\n
\nthe fires remain secure by checking for smoke and remaining heat.<\/p>\n
\nCanada is experiencing similar fire activity. Multiple fires have crossed the International Border. The
\nforest is coordinating with Canadian fire officials. Ontario Wildfire Information.<\/p>\n
\nOn the evening of July 6, 2026, a storm system moved through the area with lightning and little precipitation.
\nThe following day, several small wildfires were reported. Local and off-forest firefighting resources are
\nconducting suppression on these fires. With warm and dry summer conditions, additional wildfires are being
\ndetected daily.<\/p>\n
\nStormy conditions are expected today with a high likelihood of showers and thunderstorms. There is the
\npotential for isolated damaging wind gusts associated with the stronger storms along with localized heavy rain.
\nRain amounts of 0.25 to 0.50 inches are expected with isolated higher amounts where thunderstorms persist.
\nWinds during the morning are expected to be from the southeast then switch to the northwest between
\n1300-1500 with the passage of a cold front with gusts of 15 to 20 mph.<\/p>\n
\nFlying drones or other aircraft over the fire is prohibited. If non-authorized aircraft are detected near the fire,
\nany air operations supporting the fire will stop. Drones are illegal in federally designated wilderness areas and
\ncompromise the safety of firefighters and hinder fire operations. Recreational boaters and property owners on
\nwaterways where aircraft are water-gathering are urged to remain on the shoreline. Watercraft idling in wide
\nbays will force emergency aircraft to abort their mission<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"