Update: Wildfire burning six miles southwest of Seagull Lake in BWCA

UPDATE: At approximately 5:15 p.m. on July 31 the U.S. Forest Service sent the following update on the wildfire. 

On July 30, a lighting caused wildfire was detected on the south/southwest side of  Ogishkemuncie Lake. The fire is located between Ogishkemuncie and Mueller lakes on a portage trail. This is southwest of Seagull and Jasper Lakes in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) in Lake County. The fire is about one acre in size. 

The fire is creeping and smoldering in a mix of conifer and hardwood trees.  A crew of four firefighters paddled into the area and are receiving equipment to help with suppression efforts and the potential of growth. An additional crew of six has been ordered from Ely and will arrive via Beaver Float plane to assist with suppression activities. 

There is an approaching weather system with expected showers and thunderstorms this evening and overnight. The increase in moisture will assist with suppression efforts. Fire growth would be slowed if it reaches the area that was burned during the 2006 Cavity lake fire which is 1.5 miles to the east of the Ogish fire.

This area is a travel route in the BWCAW, please be mindful of fire crews. You may also encounter aircraft in the area. Firefighter and public safety are the most important priorities in all wildfire response. Due to the remote setting of this fire, the suppression efforts will be undertaken deliberately with life safety in mind.

One helicopter and one beaver plane are available to assist.  

There are no closures at this time.

Original post by WTIP

A wildfire is burning southwest of Seagull Lake at the end of the Gunflint Trail in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

As of 11:30 p.m. on July 30, a fire approximately 2 acres in size was burning near Ogishkemuncie Lake in the BWCA, according to Patty Johnson, the fire management officer on the Gunflint district for the US Forest Service. Ogishkemuncie Lake is located about six miles southwest of Seagull Lake, near Jasper Lake.

Johnson, who is currently in Oregon assisting other Forest Service crews with wildfires in the West, told WTIP the cause of the fire is unknown, and that an aerial report said the fire is around 2 acres.

“We have a crew paddling in tonight to assess it and make a plan for it,” Johnson said just before midnight on Monday, July 30.

There are multiple fires burning near the US/Canada border in Quetico Provincial Park. Rain showers were expected Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, Aug. 1.

WTIP’s Joe Friedrichs spoke with Patrick Johnson, the assistant fire management officer for the Gunflint and Tofte Districts on the Superior National Forest.