U.S. Forest Service-Superior National Forest

08/19/2026

July Lightning Incident Update, Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Inci Web: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mnsuf-july-2026-superior-nf-wildfires
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuperiorNF
Fire Information & Media Inquiries: 218-881-2091 (8 a.m.–8 p.m.); [email protected]
Fire and Smoke Map: fire.airnow.gov

Superior National Forest: Portions of the Forest have reopened for public use. As of August 13, more than 1,600 of the roughly 2,000 BWCAW campsites are available (approximately 73%). Visit the Forest’s Alerts webpage for maps and information on recreation, BWCAW, and fire restrictions.

The Forest is managing the Little Knife Fire. It remains at 4,815 acres, 90% contained and with no threats to the perimeter. Minimal fire activity. Additional updates on this fire will occur if conditions change.

July Lightning Fires: 75,970 total acres (67,075 in U.S., 8,895 in Canada); 619 personnel.

•Camp Fire: 4,357 acres; 97% contained; 5 miles north of Winton. The earlier spot fire east of the main fire in an area due east of Muskeg Creek has been mopped up and will be put into patrol status by air. The Cloquet Line has a few days of chipping work left on it and the rest of the fire area is being assessed for suppression repair needs.
•Sioux Fire: 6,832 acres; 53% contained; north of the Echo Trail and east of Jeanette Campground. Firefighters are cold trailing and mopping up any hot spots on the east flank and west side of Ramshead Lake. Repair work will begin on dozer line on the south end of the fire. An Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS/drone) will assist on the west side of the fire to identify any hot spots. Crews will utilize aircraft and watercrafts for logistical support to back haul equipment from the area.
•Bear Trap Fire: 39,267 total acres (30,872 acres in the U.S.); 51% contained; 20 miles north of Ely. Firefighters used a drone to assist in locating any remaining hot spots along the south and southeast perimeter of the fire. They will also be scouting the entire 12 miles of the Angleworm Lake Trail for additional repair needs. Mop-up and cold trailing will occur from Wagosh to Nikki Lake. Crews worked to improve portage access from Angleworm trailhead to Angleworm Lake and between Angleworm Lake and Home Lake yesterday.
•Thumb Fire: The Thumb Fire burned into the Wolfpack Fire and the combined fires are now known as the Thumb Fire. 25,514 total acres (25,014 acres in the U.S.); 46% contained; 6 miles south of Gakijiwanong Anishnaabe Nation, Canada. Mop-up and cold trailing will continue today along the fire perimeter, as well as in the northwest corner. A UAS will assist in identifying to check for any areas that are not currently contained. Backhauling will continue for any unused equipment. Crews rechecked sections of line on Coleman Island and were able to confirm containment.
•Echo Trail Road: Work continues to develop a shaded fuel break along the Echo Trail. Two miles of the road remain to be completed and logged. This shaded fuel break is important to help reduce the intensity and slow the spread of any future fire activity. A thin canopy of large, mature trees will remain. This will retain shade, which will help suppress the rapid regrowth of brush, and increase defensible space. Masticators, large and small chippers are being utilized for the operation, as well as road graders to improve the road in the southeast and western sections of Echo Trail in the fire area. Expect substantial delays if you travel along the Echo Trail.

Weather and Fire Behavior: A high-pressure system will arrive on Wednesday leading to similar weather conditions to what was observed on Tuesday. Breezy northwesterly winds will be the main concern with gusts approaching 20mph. Changes are on the horizon as our next weather system moves in on Thursday with chances for rain showers and isolated thunderstorms expected through much of the day. Another chance of showers and isolated storms will be present on Friday before we finally clear out for the weekend. Recent rainfall has significantly reduced fire behavior. Fire spread should remain limited today, along with the probability of new fire starts.

Temporary Flight Restrictions: Temporary flight restrictions are in place over the fire area. A permanent flight restriction covers the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Visit the Federal Aviation Administration website for more information: https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=map

08/19/2026

Good morning! Troy Floyd, Operations Section Chief for Southern Area Complex Incident Management Team 1 is back this morning to provide the morning update on all the great work happening on the July Lightning Incident.

08/19/2026

In the firefighting community, we’re family. When we lose a member of our family, we all hurt. We’re hurting now because last week, firefighter Leslie R. Washington of Noorvik, Alaska lost his life following a medical emergency while responding to the Bear Trap Fire.

Thankfully, more and more resources are available to help us heal. They include programs addressing mental health and wellbeing of emergency responders, such as critical incident stress management teams and a new federal wildland fire therapy service.

Dr. Heather Rose-Carlson and her husband Daryl understand that the people first to help others sometimes need a little help themselves. Dr. Rose-Carlson is a clinician who provides services to first responders. From Duluth, the couple was vacationing in the Ely area with their two female therapy dogs, Denali and Kenai, when they heard the tragic news about firefighter Washington.

They reached out to fire personnel to see if Denali and Kenai could offer their services to lift spirits of fire personnel assigned to the July Lightning Incident, which includes the Bear Trap Fire. As many fire people are also dog people, the answer was a resounding “Yes!”

Kenai, 7 (the larger dog) and Denali, 1, are Norwegian elkhounds. True to breed characteristics of affection, loyalty and attentiveness, the duo showed their therapeutic nature at a recent visit to the incident command post and food hall. At the food unit, they were especially attentive to leftover bacon!

Thank you, Dr. Heather Rose-Carlson, Daryl, Kenai and Denali. You warmed our hearts and brought smiles to our faces at a time when we needed it most.

08/18/2026

Good morning! More great work happening on the July Lightning Incident. Here is today’s operational briefing from Operations Section Chief Trainee Scott Crist. Today is Scott’s last day on the incident. Thank you Scott for a great job and safe travels.

08/18/2026

Canoe Trips and Wildfire Fights

What do canoe trips have to do with fighting wildfires?

On the Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota, hundreds of lakes and lightning‑caused fires in remote terrain make canoes an essential tool. They help wildland firefighters reach areas deep within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness where vehicles simply can’t go.

One of the crews taking on these challenging wildfire missions is the Minnesota Bravo Crew—11 firefighters from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Department of Transportation, along with a medic from Kentucky. These photos show the team paddling out after 11 days on the Camp Fire, where they worked hard to put out the last remaining hot spots. Time to head home.
The crew includes Foreman Nate Johnson; Firefighters Sam Bull, Chris Emery, Nathan Trotter, Joe Sweet, Aaron Hoefer, Tony Murilla, Dawson Quern, Landon Goble and Mia Vaughan; and Medic Jimmy Randolph.

They’re just one of many hardworking crews tackling wildfires across the Superior National Forest this July and August.

08/17/2026

Five years ago, the Greenwood Wildfire made history on the Superior National Forest landscape.

The Superior NF continues to extend gratitude and appreciation to all the firefighters, fire support staff, incident management teams, heavy equipment operators and more that respond to the call of service to support these all-risk incidents that affect communities and landscapes across the nation and world at large.

GREENWOOD FIRE UPDATE 🔥 8.16.21
2 PM UPDATE: Hwy 2 is now closed from Hwy 1 to just north of Greenwood Lake.
SUMMARY: The Greenwood Fire was detected on August 15, 2021 around 3 pm on the Laurentian Ranger District. The fire is near Greenwood Lake and approximately 15 miles southwest of Isabella, MN. The current size is unknown and estimated to be at least one thousand acres. Today, the fire is expected to continue spreading northward due to southerly winds. Yesterday, the fire was extremely active and was spotting and crowning, and grew rapidly due to high gusts of winds and dry conditions.

Aircraft flew the area this morning to get a better estimate on the footprint. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Fire crews are suppressing the fire on the ground and from the air.

RESOURCES: The Forest Service and Lake County are currently in unified command responding to the Greenwood Fire. The Forest has ordered a Type 2 Incident Management Team to support the response to this fire and the team will likely arrive on site sometime tomorrow.

WEATHER: Expect to see near critical fire weather this afternoon and evening across Minnesota. Temperatures in the Greenwood Fire area will be around 85 degrees with humidity levels will be roughly around 35 percent and southerly winds from 5-15 mph with gusts of 20 to 25 mph.

SAFETY EVACUATIONS: Today, the McDougal Lake area is under evacuation. Yesterday, the Forest Service, Lake County and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources notified residents in the McDougal Lake area to be prepared in case in evacuation was necessary. Lake County is the lead on public safety and evacuations. There are reports of extensive ash and smoke along Highway 1. Please exercise caution while driving.

CLOSURES: Effective August 15, the McDougal Lake Recreation Area on the Tofte Ranger District is closed. This includes McDougal Lake Campground, McDougal Lake Boat Ramp, McDougal Lake Picnic Area, McDougal Lake Trailhead and Trail. Today, the closure order is being expanded to include Little Isabella Campground, Flat Horn/ Gegoka Ski Trails and Trailheads (Trail 71093 and 71093 Spur trails A ,B ,C, D ,E, F, FA ,FB, G, GA ,H, I ,and J ), Lake Gegoka Boat Access, Stony River Observation Site, Stony River Canoe Launch, Flat Horn Lake Picnic Area, Flat Horn Lake Boat Launch, Dragon Boat Launch, Beetle Boat Launch, Grass Boat Launch, Two Deere Boat Launch, Little Wampus Boat Launch, Sand Lake Boat Launch, Bearskin Lake Boat Launch, Surprise Lake Boat Launch, Grouse Lake Boat launch, Shamrock Boat Launch, Chub Lake Boat Launch, Dunnigan Lake Boat Launch and Gypsy Lake Boat Launch. This will be updated on the Superior National Forest alerts and notices page today.

AIR QUALITY: The MPCA has issued an Air Quality Alert for inland Lake County due to wildfire smoke from the Greenwood Fire effective through 3 p.m. Tuesday. The affected area will be limited to areas near and directly downwind of the fire to the north and northeast.

For Greenwood Fire information, visit Inciweb.nwcg.gov or call 218-499-9441. For information on closures, visit the Superior National Forest alerts and notices page. For all other fires on the Superior National Forest, please call 218-214-7844.

📷: Greenwood Fire by USDA Forest Service.

08/17/2026

Thank you Eastern Area IMT!

At the end of every assignment, there are handshakes, hugs and the spoken words "travel safe." This time, the hugs lasted a little longer and those words felt a little more meaningful. To our hosts U.S. Forest Service-Superior National Forest and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, we were honored to be following under your command. The community of Ely, Minnesota could not have been any kinder or more supportive. There is still a lot of fire on the landscape. Who knows where we'll end up next?!?!

08/17/2026

Rolling into the week like the trail owes us money. The Superior National Forest is
waiting for you. Dirt, sunshine and endless miles of “you got this.” Grab your wheels, hit the woods and show summer how it’s done.

(Forest Service photo by Marc Sanchez.)

08/17/2026

July Lightning Incident Update, Monday, August 17, 2026

Inci Web: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mnsuf-july-2026-superior-nf-wildfires
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuperiorNF
Fire Information & Media Inquiries: 218-881-2091 (8 a.m.–8 p.m.); [email protected]
Fire and Smoke Map: https://fire.airnow.gov/ #6/41/-98

All evacuation orders for St. Louis and Lake Counties have been lifted.

Superior National Forest: Portions of the Forest have reopened for public use. As of August 13, more than 1,600 of the roughly 2,000 BWCAW campsites are available (approximately 73%). o Visit the Forest’s Alerts webpage for maps and information on recreation, BWCAW, and fire restrictions.
•The forest is managing the Little Knife Fire: 4,815 acres; 90% contained; 45 miles northwest of Grand Marais. There are 4 personnel currently on the ground. Minimal change in condition from previous days.
July Lightning Fires: 74,990 total acres (66,097 in U.S., 8,895 in Canada); 656 personnel.
•Camp Fire: 4,357 acres; 97% contained; 5 miles north of Winton. Most of the Camp Fire is contained, but firefighters are extinguishing heat on the southern flank of a spot fire east of the main fire in an area due east of Muskeg Creek. Chipping continues along the Cloquet Line and is expected to be completed in two days.
•Sioux Fire: 6,875 acres; 55% contained; north of the Echo Trail and east of Jeanette Campground. Firefighters are cold trailing and mopping up hot spots north of Echo Trail on a southwestern finger of the fire, moving north along the west flank of the fire towards Little Indian Sioux River. Crews will also be working on the east flank of the fire to back haul equipment.
•Bear Trap Fire: 38,505 total acres (30,110 acres in the U.S.); 45% contained; 20 miles north of Ely. Firefighters are scouting opportunities to put in fire lines on the southeastern tip of the fire from Gull Lake to Boot Lake. They also will look to cool heat along the southern end of the fire west of Spring Creek. Crews will help develop a helispot near Friday Bay on the northeastern flank. On the eastern flank, firefighters are working south towards Papoose Lake and will put in containment lines away from the fire’s edge from Papoose Lake to Chippewa Lake to Nikki Lake along the portages. Work clearing the portages should be finished today. Further south on the eastern flank, firefighters will look to contain the fire directly at its edge between Wagosh Lake and Gun Lake. They will also patrol the northwest tip of the fire to ensure it doesn’t pose a threat to La Croix Cabin to the north. Backhaul needs from the Bear Trap Fire through portages that have been cleared will be assessed.
•Thumb Fire: The Thumb Fire burned into the Wolfpack Fire and the combined fires are now known as the Thumb Fire. 25,253 total acres (24,755 acres in the U.S.); 44% contained; 6 miles south of Gakijiwanong Anishnaabe Nation, Canada. Firefighters will hold and control tactical burns done on the west flank and prepare to back haul excess equipment. They continue to work directly at the fire’s edge on the northwest flank, working west from the Takuemich Lake area to secure containment towards Gun Lake. Hoses and sprinklers have been installed on Coleman Island.
•Echo Trail Road: Development of a shaded fuel break continues along the Echo Trail and logging operations are expected to last another four days. Three and a half miles of road remain to be logged. Masticators are working behind logging operations in the Sioux Fire’s footprint where it crossed the road. A large chipper is working westward from Big Lake Lodge and county road graders will improve the road in the southeast and western sections of Echo Trail in the fire area. Expect substantial delays if you travel along the Echo Trail. More chippers are on order to help speed up clearance of burnable woody debris.

Evacuations: All evacuation orders in St. Louis and Lake Counties have been lifted.

Weather and Fire Behavior: A cold front moves south from Canada with showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Chance of rain is 60 percent and chance of thunderstorms 30 percent. Storms could be strong with gusty winds of 35 to 45 mph, small hail and brief heavy rain. Winds today will be from the west-southwest, shifting to northwest in the evening. More than an inch of rain fell on most of the fire area Saturday into Sunday morning. This moisture moderated fire behavior to “active creeping”, but yesterday’s winds have quickly dried wetted surface duff. Sheltered areas receiving less rain are especially dry.

Temporary Flight Restrictions: Temporary flight restrictions are in place over the fire area. A permanent flight restriction covers the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Visit the Federal Aviation Administration website for more information: https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr3/?page=map

08/17/2026

Good morning! The sun was out this morning although a cold front is expected this afternoon and evening bringing showers and thunderstorms. Here is today’s morning operational briefing from Operations Section Chief Trainee Scott Crist.