Tofte, Schroeder and Lutsen firefighters and US Forest Service personnel battled a massive unplanned bonfire at the Bluefin Bay maintenance area in Tofte on Monday, July 6.
The Tofte Fire Department was paged at 12:42 p.m. on Monday, July 6 to respond to a fire at 85 Tofte Homestead Road. Firefighters responded to fight the fire—not of a structure, but several massive piles of split firewood stored at the Bluefin Bay maintenance area.
Lutsen and Schroeder Fire Departments and the US Forest Service were called to provide mutual aid with tankers and water. A KGM Contractors water tanker also assisted.
Bluefin Bay employees used an excavator and bobcat to move as much undamaged firewood as possible away from the blaze, but the job was hampered by heat and thick smoke. High winds blew heavy smoke into the neighboring cemetery and onto Highway 61.
Firefighters from the West End departments and the Forest Service hosed down the bonfire until 3:38 p.m. The Tofte Fire Department left a water drop tank and a pump on the scene all night and Bluefin Bay employees watched the fire overnight to make sure it did not spread.
It is estimated that 80 – 100 cords of cut and split firewood were destroyed. Bluefin Bay manager Dennis Rysdahl said the cause of fire is unknown, but it is suspected that it was caused by someone smoking in the area.
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