The US Forest Service was dispatched to two fires last week, in Lutsen and Grand Marais. Both were fortunately extinguished before causing significant damage.
The first fire was spotted on July 8 by a hiker from Hayward, Wisconsin, John Leighton. He and his wife were at an overlook on the Superior Hiking Trail near Agnes Lake when they spotted a large tree on fire. Theyattempted to put the fireout with the water they carried, to no avail. Leighton was able to contact Cook County Law Enforcement on his cell phone at 10:35 a.m., telling them he was about 2.4 miles in west of the Caribou Trail on the hiking trail, at the overlook.
Cook County Law Enforcement contacted the US Forest Service, which contacted the US Forest Service Tofte Ranger Station. A Tofte fire crew of four hiked in with hand tools and water packs and extinguished the fire. Mark Lawler said the fire burned less than 1/10th of an acre. Lawler said the exact cause of the fire is unknown, but it is believed to have been human caused.
A second fire call came on Saturday, July 11 at 3:35 p.m. from Bob Bach at 180 The Grade. Bach, from Plymouth, MN, reported a fire on an island on Two Island Lake in Grand Marais. A US Forest Service fire crew was in the area and boated out to find an island in the center of the lake about 80% engulfed. The fire was extinguished, but burned about three acres. The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time, but it is believed to have been human caused.
Although the North Shore received some rain last week, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources still urges the public to use extreme caution with fires. Cook County’s fire danger is currently rated “high.” To find out about fire conditions in Cook County, call the US Forest Service Gunflint District office in Grand Marais at (218) 387-1750 or the Tofte District office at (218) 663-7280 or visit www.dnr.state.mn.us for the latest information.
To find out about fire conditions in Cook County, call the US Forest Service GunflintDistrict office: Grand Marais · (218) 387-1750 Tofte District · (218) 663-7280 or visit www.dnr.state.mn.us
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