There were four wildfires in Cook County in the last month—all human caused. Fortunately all four fires were spotted and extinguished quickly by people in the vicinity.
On Thursday, August 11, there was a fire on Horseshoe Island on Lake Saganaga. That fire was noticed and extinguished by a volunteer Canadian fire brigade. The fire resulted from campers not using the designated U.S. Forest Service fire ring, but instead building their own fire ring out of rocks. The Forest Service was notified and responded to mop up and monitor the fire, which burned approximately 1/10th of an acre.
Another fire that occurred on Loon Lake on Monday, August 8, caused by someone not completely extinguishing a campfire. The Gunflint Trail Fire Department was the initial responder and the Forest Service followed up the next day to ensure the fire was completely extinguished.
Another fire that occurred the next day, Tuesday, August 9, was also caused when campers built a fire outside of the designated fire ring. That fire also burned 1/10th of an acre.
On Sunday, August 14, Jim Holzer of Grand Marais reported a smoldering fire and abandoned vehicle off of Country Road 6, on the Meridian Road in Grand Marais. The Maple Hill Fire Department was paged and responded with one engine and four firefighters. They extinguished the fire, which had burned approximately 1/10th of an acre. A U.S. Forest Service fire crew checked the fire scene the next day and found it had reignited slightly and was again smoldering. The fire crew again extinguished the fire.
Forest Service enforcement is investigating the incident as there were also several trees cut down in the area.
Maple Hill Fire Chief Ed Hedstrom said it appeared that there had been a group of people having a party in the field where the fire started. “It’s starting to get dry,” said Hedstrom. “People need to be a little more careful than that.”
According to Patty Johnson, a fuels management specialist with the U.S. Forest Service Superior National Forest, fire season is at its peak right now. She said typically the forest is at its driest during the second and third week of August. She said conditions are still reasonably good in the forest, which is why none of these mancaused fires spread drastically.
Fire danger should decrease as temperatures start to be cooler. Johnson noted that days are already beginning to be shorter. However, Johnson cautioned that conditions could change quickly and as always, she urged people to use caution with fire. Always use designated campfire rings and take extra care—and lots of water—to completely extinguish campfires when leaving, even for a short while.
“This would be the week for everyone to be extra careful with fires,” said Johnson.
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