Cook County Sheriff Mark Falk used his statutory authority to ban all outdoor fires in Cook County effective 12:01 a.m. April 23, 2010 until further notice. Due to extremely high fire danger, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) have also banned open and prescribed burning, fireworks, and outdoor welding. The sheriff ’s edict supersedes the DNR announcement that it still allows campfires from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. in campfire receptacles by homes, resorts, or campgrounds.
The forest is at historic dry levels, Falk told the county board Tuesday, April 27, 2010. He has been around a lot of fires in his 21 years in Cook County, Falk said. His decision to ban fires, including charcoal grilling, is supported by local DNR and USFS supervisors, he said. With seasonal visitors expected to start arriving within the next couple of weeks, he believes this is an important move.
Commissioner Bruce Martinson said burning restrictions a couple of years ago were not enforced, and he lost $4,000-5,000 of business because he complied while others did not. He owns Superior Ridges, a hotel complex in Schroeder, and a lot of long-term guests, temporary workers at Minnesota Power, left for other establishments along the shore that were allowing charcoal grilling. “I just can’t do that again,” Martinson said.
Sheriff Falk stuck to his guns. “I don’t want to go through another Ham Lake Fire,” he said, referring to the 2007 Ham Lake wildfire that burned for more than a week, destroyed more than 75,000 acres of forest land, and cost approximately $11 million to extinguish. The fire also destroyed approximately 138 structures, ranging from sheds to cabin homes.
“I don’t want to, either,” Martinson replied.
Falk said the state “pressured” him to continue to allow fires along the Highway 61 corridor, but local state park employees are supporting his decision to go with a complete ban.
What about meat smokers? Martinson asked.
“I do not want to go through another Ham Lake Fire,” the sheriff repeated. “It’s tragic for the person who starts it, and it’s tragic for the community.” Falk said the cost of the campfire that started the Ham Lake fire was significant to the people on the Gunflint Trail.
Commissioner Jan Hall suggested to Martinson that he could provide gas grills for his guests without a large investment. Martinson said his greater issue was that the ban was not enforced and he followed it to his own detriment.
The board passed a resolution supporting the fire ban. The county board does not have jurisdiction over the City of Grand Marais or the Grand Portage Reservation, but County Attorney Tim Scannell said the city supports the ban, and Falk said Tribal Chair Norman Deschampe would advocate with the Tribal Council to go along with the ban as well.
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