Knife Lake Forest Fire

[thedeadsea]

Anybody have any info on this more than what's currently in the DNT?

Steve

[jmd1]

Must be pretty small as they are not on the national list. If they get some time or size on them check out inciweb for updates. They are not listed there yet. Not even on the forest service website but that can take some time. I can do some further research, if i see anything i will post it.

[Improvedarock]

Heard it was 10-15 acres so far. That all needs to burn anyways a lot of underbrush in the woods these days, not to mention the blow down the loggers could of harvested in winter over ice roads. Let er burn!

[Down Deep]

MPR has been reporting on it. Mostly a ground burn. Several portage trails and campsites closed. 16 firefighters were to be airlifted in this afternoon.

[Improvedarock]

I'm sure history will repeat itself and forest cops will start a controlled burn to obtain the original fire. They usually start them with high winds! It's hot, it's dry, it needs to burn! Everyone knows its gonna happen its a matter of when.

[LunkerLover84]

Yikes! I hope that doesn't spread to far. I'm heading up to the Sag/Alpine/Seagull area next week!

[Improvedarock]

Soon as that blowdown swath starts there's no stopping it. All the fire teams are out west fighting those nightmare fires. If northeastern mn had a major fire they would have to hire greenhorns off the street.

[thedeadsea]

Latest DNT report says fire is now 100 acres and 40 percent contained.

[Mike Stark]

Today's update from the FS:

A closure was put in place for the South Arm of Knife Lake yesterday which includes the waterway of the South Arm, twenty four campsites, and nine portages. All entry points into the BWCAW remain open.

The fire danger remains high. BWCAW visitors are asked to use extreme caution with campfires. Campfires are safest in the evening after 7:00 p.m. when temperatures cool, winds are usually lighter, and relative humidity increases. Drown fires and embers completely.

Current Fire Activity:

Knife Lake Fire: now at approximately 100 acres, fire is north of the South Arm of Knife and south of Amoeber Lake: Township 65, Range 6 West, Section 18. Fire fighters are taking full suppression actions and are pleased with the progress. Control lines are being created and are holding well. The smoke column may increase today due to the ignition of unburned fuel between the fire and the control lines. Containment is estimated at 40%.

Sedative Lake Fire, north of Ima: Township 64, Range 7 West, Section 17. Reported at three tenths of an acre in size and 60 % contained yesterday afternoon. A two person crew camped nearby and will be working it again today.

Contained and Controlled Fires:

Disappointment Lake Fire: quarter acre, discovered Saturday evening, August 24, 2013. Declared out on 8/27/13.

Resources:

Sixteen fire fighters and four public safety staff on the Knife Lake Fire; two staff on Sedative Fire; CL215 air tanker, small helicopter, and an air attack fixed wing stationed at Ely Tanker Base; two deHavilland Beaver floatplanes at the Ely Seaplane Base.

For a location map of the three fires, the South Arm of Knife Lake closure order, a closure map, and updates please see our website: www.fs.usda.gov/superior.

[Mike Stark]

Today's update from the forest service:

The waterways, portages, and campsites of the South Arm of Knife Lake are now open to Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) paddlers. There are no campfire restrictions other than the usual ones: small fires only within FS grates and never left unattended.

This will be the last update until the Knife Lake Fire is declared out or another significant even occurs.

Current Fire Activity: Knife Lake Fire: 188 acres. Fire is north of the South Arm of Knife and south of Amoeber Lake: Township 65, Range 6 West, Section 18. Fire managers have successfully suppressed a fire that was in an unsafe and inaccessible location by bringing it out to natural barriers. Containment is at 100%. The Knife Lake Fire will be declared controlled when a band of ground 150 feet wide from the control line is mopped up. To clarify yesterday’s update: the ten Conservation Corps of Minnesota and Iowa fire fighters left the fire yesterday after providing three days of good hard work on the fire line. Other fire fighters were de-mobed from the fire today. Two fire fighters remain to continue mop-up and patrol of the line.

Fires now out: • Disappointment Lake Fire: quarter acre, discovered Saturday evening, August 24, 2013. Declared out on 8/27/13. • Sedative Lake Fire, north of Ima: Township 64, Range 7 West, Section 17. Reported at three tenths of an acre in size. Called out this morning. For a location map of the three fires and daily fire updates please see our website: www.fs.usda.gov/superior. Three fire progression pictures on Flickr: Knife Lake Fire 2013.

[thedeadsea]

So the red outline on the map was the final fire area? Or they let it burn out to the black line?

[Improvedarock]

They gave up after it crossed the black line! Guess they got taxed to much fighting in the red zone! Idk lol:)