Monday, I thought, was going to be a much-needed rain day. The dry woods and my aching body could have both used a good soaker, but instead we were both let down.
It was hard to tell if we were looking at smoke or rain clouds that morning and it turned out to be both. The clouds were barely visible until afternoon on Gunflint Lake as the very pronounced plume of smoke, rising from the west, engulfed the sky. A distant rumble let us know it was about to rain as the wind started ripping from the south.
So far we have received very little rainfall and with any luck the lightning strikes will be at a minimum. The high winds have been wreaking havoc on the Pagami Creek Forest Fire in Ely. As of Sunday evening it was reported to be 4,500 acres in size, by Monday morning it was estimated to be over 11,000 acres. They can only give an educated guess to its size since there is so much smoke in the air. The U.S. Forest Service has closed many roads and Boundary Waters entry points east of Ely and northwest of Isabella due to the rapidly spreading fire. The lightning strike that caused the fire happened on August 18 and smoldered for a week before gaining momentum. Everything you have read in my column so far is true as of 5 p.m. Monday evening— at 5:30 p.m. I was literally called away from writing to help out with a small fire on Seagull Lake and I am finally able to continue writing now on Tuesday evening. A lot can change in a day!
The Pagami Creek fire has grown to over 60,000 acres and is expected to be much bigger than the Ham Lake fire that burned approximately 75,000 acres. This will be the largest fire within the BWCA to date. I am not a reporter, but an outdoor columnist who likes to focus specifically on the Gunflint Trail where I live. Hence my utter disdain for fishing “reports.” If you read last week’s column, then you understand what I am talking about.
Anyway, I just finished listening to the meeting that was broadcast by WTIP on the radio concerning the fire and I am a little upset about the negative attitude thrown at the Forest Service. Before you start getting mad, consider what they are actually up against. We, the people, represent completely different views on how to manage this unorganized territory. Government is designed, by us, to decipher our opinions and make the best decisions that serve the greatest number of people. Do you think the Forest Service wants another expensive forest fire that could jeopardize people’s lives and homes? Their experts run countless risk assessment models to come up with the best decisions they can on whether or not to let nature take its course. The risk assessment on the Pagami Creek fire came to less than 1 percent. If they had decided to crush the fire on day one, there would be some environmental groups complaining that the Forest Service was messing with the natural life of a forest.
As soon as the fire turns into a disaster, people start throwing them under the bus. The Forest Service is darned if they do and darned if they don’t. Ask yourself: If you had to make the decision, would you go with the 1% chance or the 99% chance of greater good? I have had my share of bouts with the Forest Service, mostly pertaining to motor permits, and it makes me angry even though I understand they are trying to represent all of us. I have seen my friends and neighbors lose their homes, and it is heartbreaking.
The “extreme” environmental groups have a lot of money and put a lot of pressure on regulations in the B-Dub. Think about that next time you receive one of their cute little donation letters in the mail. They are not worried about your homes or your scenery.
Pointing fingers does not solve or change the problem. Be prepared and informed. Focus on personal safety. Mother Nature will decide the rest.
At press time the Pagami
Creek fire was estimated to
be 100,000 acres, indeed
the largest forest fire in
Minnesota’s history.
Cory Christianson has worked as a fishing guide on the Gunflint Trail since 2000. If you have any fishing or wildlife reports or stories to share, send an email to: christiansoncory@hotmail.com or call 218-388-0315. You can also visit Cory’s website at Gunflintfishingguide.com.
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