Rain slows Pagami Creek Fire; Banadad bridge work allowed to continue

The Pagami Creek Fire remains at 30% contained at 93,669 acres. Between 0.2–0.5 inches of rain fell on the fire area yesterday. Since Sunday, 3/4 to 1 inch of rain has fallen on the fire. Three crews were flown into Kawishiwi Lake today to start work on the eastern perimeter. On the southern perimeter, crews brushed over 2 miles of road, built 500 feet of dozer line, and 1000 feet of saw line.

In the meantime work progressed on the Banadad Trail bridge remotely located midway along the Banadad ski trail in the BWCAW. The Banadad Trail Assn. crew with other volunteers was given special permission by the US Forest Service to enter the wilderness even though the Pagami Creek Fire had forced the closure of most of the BWCAW entry points west of the Gunflint Trail including One Island Lake where the crew launched.

While the fire had encompassed some of the area, recent cooler weather and slight moisture allowed for the crew to travel to the site where the bridge was in much in need of repair. Grant funds from Arrowhead Electric Cooperative aided the project.

The bridge is 36 foot long with a 24-foot center span and 6-foot approach sections on each end. The crew removed the rough cut cedar decking, installed new bridge abutments then with the aid of a series of rollers, a pickaroons, a timber jack, a cant hook and manual lifting, three new 26 foot stringers were put in place. The cedar decking which was still usable was reinstalled.

The project was completed by late afternoon on Saturday. This enabled the crew to spend several hours clearing down trees along about 3 kilometers of the ski trail near the bridge. 

Though recently wet, a drying and warming trend will start Friday and extend into the weekend with highs in the mid to upper 60s. Despite recent rains, the area is still in a 2 to 2-1/2 inch rain deficit. Starting Saturday, fire behavior might increase slightly from creeping and smoldering to occasional surface fires.