The US Forest Service has been taking advantage of the fall weather with a number of prescribed burns. This was the view from the deck at Windigo Lodge on Monday, October 18.
Thelong process of cleaning up the hazardous fuels left behind after the July 4, 1999 windstorm downed 477,000 acres of trees in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) continued this week as the US Forest Service conducted several prescribed burns. At press time, the Meeds and Dawkins prescribed burns were winding down after several days of sending plumes of smoke into the air and creating fiery-looking skies on the Gunflint Trail. Work on the fires will continue until at least October 24.
According to Mary Ann Atwood of the Gunflint Ranger District, there was successful ignition of the 1,626-acre Meeds prescribed burn on Monday, October 18 and it was completed on Tuesday, October 19. The Meeds prescribed burn is on the north side of Meeds Lake in the mid-Gunflint Trail area, within the BWCAW. Some campsites on Meeds Lake and Skipper Lake portages and campsites were closed during the Meeds prescribed burns. At press time, crews were in the area monitoring and mopping up.
Ignition of the 1,963-acre Dawkins burn was midday on Tuesday, October 19, a day later than originally planned. The project was ignited using helicopters. The Dawkins prescribed burn is near East Dawkins and Tucker lakes within the BWCAW. The Banadad Trail was closed in the area of the burn during operations, as well as the portage to Extortion Lake, campsites on Dawkins and East Dawkins lakes and a campsite on Cross Bay Lake.
On Wednesday, October 20, the Dawkins burn was also winding down. Atwood said there would be no more aerial ignition and crews were in the area only to monitor and mop up.
Smoke columns were eerily reminiscent of the Ham Lake wildfire and on Monday evening some diners at Windigo Lodge expressed concern about the controlled burn being too close. One guest was heard to say, “I guess they know what they are doing.”
Others were reassured by the sight and sound of firefighting aircraft. Atwood said there were ground personnel and wildland engines working in and around the project area. Atwood said there are also multiple aerial resources assisting with operations, including two Beaver airplanes and up to three helicopters.
Causing smoke to hover over the county earlier was the 18 Mile prescribed fire, which was a 140-acre “underburn” in a mature white pine stand in the Tofte area. This prescribed burn completed a prescribed fire begun in spring 2010. The 18 Mile fire was ignited October 13 and completed October 15.
Although another prescribed burn, the Kekekabic prescribed burn, was in Lake County, about 30 miles north and east of Ely, its smoke also affected Cook County last week. The Cook County law enforcement center and area fire departments received numerous calls reporting smoke on Saturday, October 16. As far away as downtown Grand Marais, North Shore citizens saw and smelled smoke.
The Kek prescribed burn was ignited by helicopters on October 14 and 15. A number of portages and sections of the Kekekabic Trail were closed during the prescribed burn, which was conducted in several units—Unit 302 was 1,260 acres; Unit 310 was 1,450 acres and Unit 316 was 900 acres.
Thepurpose of the controlled burns is to reduce the amount of blowdown and help prevent the spread of wildfires to surrounding areas. The next priorities for prescribed burns are Crocodile Lake, Bower Trout Lake and Rum Sled, however that will have to wait until spring. On Thursday morning, Atwood announced tht there would be no further burns in 2010. Atwood explained that a combination of rain, frost, and wind conditions were “outside of the prescription” for controlled burns. Mop up continues.
Anyone planning a fall visit to these areas should contact the US Forest Service for the latest status of the trails and portages. Call the Gunflint Ranger District at (218) 387-1750. Map and fact sheets are also available on line at www.fs.usda.gov/superior.
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