The Upper Portion Of A Popular Minnesota Trail Closed Due Wildfires

According to the Forest Service, they are closing the Superior National Forest lands along the upper portion of the Gunflint Trail due to fires in the vicinity and the limited availability of firefighting resources. According to the news release from the US Forest Service;

This closure includes all forest lands along with Cook County 12/Gunflint Trail beginning at the Cook County 92 Intersection to the end of the Gunflint Trail at Trails End Campground. Campground reservations have been canceled and refunded for the next seven days, through August 31. The Forest will reevaluate this closure and determine whether or not it needs to be extended due to active fires. This closure area also includes Iron Lake Campground.

It was also noted in the press release that this closure was "consistent with the Cook County Sheriff’s pre-evacuation area for the upper Gunflint Trail area due to the John Ek Fire."

Although National Forest System lands will be temporarily closed, the "Gunflint Trail will remain open to vehicles, and visitors may recreate on private land and enjoy resorts."

What fire is the biggest burning right now in Minnesota?

So far the BWCA has seen numerous fires start from the drought and lightning strikes in the area, the largest of the current wildfires in the Greenwood Lake fire that as of this morning had burned more than 21,720 Acres which amounts to 33.2 square miles of forest.

According to an update on the Greenwood fire last night the plan was for " Firefighters to conduct several defensive firing operations with the support of air resources, engines, bulldozers, and other equipment, to reduce the burnable natural fuels near homes or near the edge of the fire."

There is expected to be another update on the Greenwood fire and the other fires later this morning.