With all the concern about the now 100,000-acre Pagami Creek fire near the Lake-Cook county border, two smaller, more manageable fires in Cook County have been almost overlooked. Fortunately these fires have been put out and/or have not grown significantly.
On September 8, a fire was reported at Lake Twelve off of the Greenwood Lake Road in Grand Marais. U.S. Forest Service fire crews responded and extinguished the fire before it spread.
A second fire was detected on September 9 in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness near Van Lake. Van Lake is about three miles west of Little Saganaga. There is no access for firefighters, so the Van Lake has been monitored and treated with water drops. It is “holding” at two acres.
A September 12 fire on Seagull River Road was caused by a downed power line. The Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department was the initial responder with several fire engines. The U.S. Forest Service was called and also responded and fought the fire with bulldozers and aircraft. On Tuesday, Sept. 13, Superior National Forest Fire Management Officer Patty Johnson said the fire was being mopped up. It burned about seven acres.
Johnson added thanks to the Gunflint Trail Fire Department. “They were very, very, helpful,” she said.
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