Forest Service closing Boundary Waters amid extreme heat, wildfires

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A rapidly expanding wildfire burning northeast of Ely led to wider evacuation orders on Tuesday morning.

 the Camp Fire spread more than 4 miles in a half-day amid Monday’s extremely hot and dry conditions. Tuesday was expected to be “another active fire day with gusty winds and heavy smoke.”

Authorities use a “Ready, Set, Go” protocol for evacuations. On Tuesday morning, “Go” 

 were expanded to include the length of Fernberg Road east of Ely and Winton — an area with many homes, cabins, camps and lodges. 

It’s a major access point for the now-closed Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness — and it’s the only road in or out of that area, raising concerns about any wildfire in the vicinity.

 it was going door-to-door to notify people in the evacuation zone. A temporary evacuation point was being set up at the municipal building in Babbitt.

“Ready” and “Set” notices were in place around that evacuation zone and also to the northwest for other fires burning along the Echo Trail and near Crane Lake.

 at the end of the Gunflint Trail amid concerns about a fire in Canada that has the potential to cross the border.

More than a dozen fires are burning in and near the BWCA. The 

 to visitors amid concerns that those fires could continue to spread quickly amid unusually hot, dry weather.

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Minnesota Wildfires

Live updates: Wildfires in Minnesota

Andrew Krueger

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A rapidly expanding wildfire burning northeast of Ely led to wider evacuation orders on Tuesday morning.


Karen Harrison, a wildfire prevention specialist with the Department of Natural Resources, spoke with Cathy Wurzer about the firefighting efforts. She is in Orr, Minn. 

Northeast Minnesota wildfire and evacuation update on Tuesday

A massive cloud of wildfire smoke billows over a forest next to a lake.

Courtesy of Steve Karklins

a helicopter drops water into a holding tank for wildfire supression

Evacuation orders expanded for wildfire burning northeast of Ely

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