Despite last week’s hot, dry weather and high winds, firefighters battling the Pagami Creek Fire in northeastern Minnesota now have the blaze 80% contained, officials reported Monday morning.
The Duluth New Tribune has the story HERE.
Fire-friendly conditions saw fire activity rise late last week with surface fires becoming active and groups of trees “torching” and throwing sparks into the air. Little acreage was added to the fire but spot fires occurred on the northern and eastern boundaries of the fire.
Cooler and more damp weather over the weekend helped slow the fire and aid firefighters. Warm, dry weather is forecast for this week.
The Pagami Creek fire was started by an apparent lightning strike in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness on August 18. In mid-September the slow-burning fire suddenly raced across the wilderness, consuming nearly 100,000 acres and threatening the small town of Isabella. Since then, firefighters have worked to contain the blaze.
Keep up-to-date with the progress of the firefighting effort, HERE, and the fire’s incident web site. Track the status of travel on roads, trails, and canoe routes in the area via the Superior National Forest web page, HERE.