In September 2011, a smoldering fire exploded into an inferno and raced across the Boundary Waters. In just a few days, it burned 93,000 acres of wilderness, and threatened the lives of numerous Forest Service personnel, as well as visitors.
The effects of the Pagami Creek Fire are still being felt. The wilderness, and its management, was forever changed. A series of events centered in Ely this spring are noting the lessons learned about its impact on the ecosystem, and fire management on the National Forest.
The main event is a two-day symposium in April that will include a tour of the Greenwood Fire area, the 26,000-acre fire that burned near Isabella last summer. Officials say several lessons from the Pagami Creek Fire were put in practice during the Greenwood blaze.
Events kicked off last weekend with a presentation about the Superior National Forest’s use of prescribed fire. It is now available to watch on YouTube. Sponsors include the Minnesota Arrowhead Fire Adapted Communities, Sustainable Forest Education Center, the Forest Service, Ely Tuesday Group, and Dovetail Partners.
Event details:
April 12 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Beneficial Effects of Fire Post Pagami Creek Fire
Grand Ely Lodge or online, FREE
Hosted by the Ely Tuesday Group. For more details email elytuesdaygroup@gmail.com.
April 20 and 21
Pagami Creek Fire Ten Years On: What we’ve learned
Ely State Theater
$75 for Sustainable Forests Education Cooperative members, $100 for others. Registration fee includes lunch, morning and afternoon refreshments, and bus transportation on the Greenwood fire tour.
A two-day symposium on lessons learned from the Pagami Creek Fire. Includes visits to the 2021 Greenwood Lake fire site. This event is open to all, but may be of greatest interest to professional natural resource managers. Fee for symposium participation. For more information and registation. See SFEC’s Upcoming Event page.
April 21 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Film: Oshkigin Spirit of Fire and Panel Discussion
Ely State Theater, FREE
A screening of a local 16-minute fire documentary followed by a discussion with tribal panelists on the value of Indigenous perspectives in transforming our relationship with fire and how we, as humans, relate to the whole community of life that we are part of. Panelists from tribal nations within the 1842 and 1854 Treaty Areas.
Saturday mornings
Walking trips with Bill Tefft, Ely Naturalist
Everyone welcome, FREE
Various locations
Wildland fire sites, prescribed fire sites, and more. More information.