Prescribed fires near Duncan, Ram lakes delayed

To alleviate some of the natural fuels both inside and outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, the Forest Service is planning a series of prescribed burns in the Mid-Trail area this fall.

One of these prescribed burns will be referred to in media reports and by Forest Service personnel as the ‘Duncan Lake Prescribed Fire.’ This fire will include three units totaling 5,752 acres within the BWCA approximately 22 miles north of Grand Marais.

The other prescribed burn scheduled for this fall is just south of Duncan Lake near the Morgan and Ram lakes entry points to the BWCA. This fire will be known as the ‘Lux Lake Prescribed Fire.’ This fire will consist of two units totaling 3,276 acres.

Original plans called for the prescribed burns to start in late September, according to the Forest Service. However, conditions for fire are not ideal in both of these areas as of late September, according to Patrick Johnson, the east zone fuels specialist for the Gunflint and Tofte districts. The next window of opportunity to start the prescribed burns would be in early to mid-October, Johnson said.

The audio below is an update on the prescribed burns that was recorded at WTIP on Sept. 23.

Regarding the fact these prescribed burns are taking place inside the federally-protected BWCA, Patty Johnson, the zone fire management officer for both the Gunflint and Tofte districts, previously said Forest Service managers may ignite a prescribed fire in wilderness to reduce unnatural buildups of fuels. Furthermore, Patty Johnson explained to WTIP, the Forest Service manual containing guidelines for forest management specific to fire states that it is permissible to have a prescribed burn in the BWCA in order to “reduce, to an acceptable level, the risks and consequences of wildfire within wilderness or escaping from wilderness.

The Forest Service has been authorized, in limited capacity, to use motorized equipment including chainsaws, pumps for water and motor boats inside the BWCA both prior to and during these prescribed burns. Patty Johnson said motorized equipment will only be used as needed, noting that crosscut saws and other non-mechanized equipment is currently being used to prep for the prescribed fires.