A wildfire that burned about six acres on Isle Royale in Lake Superior earlier this month caused the National Park Service to close several campsites and hiking trails, and respond with firefighting resources from around the region. The blaze has now been extinguished and all closures have been lifted.
The Mt. Franklin Fire was reported in the northeastern end of the National Park on August 13. A smoke plume was visible from Park headquarters on Mott Island. Authorities are still investigating the cause, but say they want more information about reports of an illegal campsite and campfire in the area the night before the fire was reported.
After the fire was discovered, the Park Service evacuated visitors from the nearby Three Mile and Lane Cove campground, as well as some surrounding areas. The Park Service responded immediately with its own firefighters and five water drops from a single-engine air tanker.
The next day, an incident commander from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and a team of 10 wildland firefighters from Minnesota arrived. Three days later, the firefighters had laid water hoses around the entire fire perimeter, allowing them to make significant progress on containing the blaze. At that point, the Park Service lifted some of the earlier closures.
On August 21, a week after arriving, the crew of Minnesota firefighters departed and all remaining closures were lifted. The National Park Service warned some hazards remain in the fire area, such as dead trees prone to falling. Workers have created rock cairns to lead hikers through areas where trails were obliterated by the flames.
The National Park Service is seeking more information about the possible cause of the fire. Anonymous tips can be submitted via phone or text at 888-653-0009, online at go.nps.gov/SubmitATip, or by email at nps_isb@nps.gov.