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Photo courtesy of
the US Forest Service
At press time, the Alpine Lake fire was
approximately 1,000 acres. It has been burning
since Saturday, August 6. From the air the smoke
that can be smelled as far away as Silver Bay is
evident.
Click
Here for the most recent Alpine Lake Fire Update
Firefighting continues
at Alpine Lake
By Rhonda Silence
The normally quiet Blankenburg Landing on the
Gunflint Trail's Seagull Lake was the scene of
much activity on Tuesday, August 9, 2005. The
sound of lapping waves and loon calls was
replaced with the hum of residents and visitors
at a US Forest Service briefing and
fire-fighting planes roaring overhead.
Approximately 50 people gathered to hear the
latest about the fire in the Boundary Waters
Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). At press time on
Thursday, August 11, the fire, which was started
by a lightning strike, had grown to
approximately 1,040 acres.
The Forest Service Gunflint Ranger District was
contacted at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 6 by
Canadian authorities, reporting a fire between
Seagull Lake, Alpine Lake, and Red Rock Lake. By
6:30 p.m. that evening it appeared that the fire
covered 400 acres. Gunflint Ranger Dennis
Neitzke requested and received initial
assistance of two CL-215 water bombers from
Canada. Also responding to fight the fire was a
CL-215 from the State of Minnesota, a Forest
Service helicopter, lead plane, and Beaver.
At 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 7, a Minnesota
Type 2 Management Team took control of the
incident, with representatives from the Cook
County Sheriff Office, Minnesota Department of
Natural Resources, Gunflint Volunteer Fire
Department, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau
of Indian Affairs, U.S. Forest Service, and
Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
Rain fell on Monday, August 8, which along with
cooler temperatures, helped fire suppression
efforts a little bit on Tuesday, August 9. At
the public meeting on the 9th, Fire Behavior
Analyst Doug Miedtke spoke about the rainfall,
noting that only about a 10th of an inch fell on
the fire area. "It gave us a little lull,
but not enough," he said. "Without
more rain, the fire will build again. But the
winds should be light for the next four days or
so and that should help."
Gunflint Volunteer Fire Department Chief Dan
Baumann reassured Gunflint residents and
visitors that the fire department was
"fully in the loop." He said he was
very comfortable with the Management Team's
handling of the fire. Many residents were glad
to hear that Baumann had wildfire experience
from the extensive Sag Corridor Fire in 1995.
"The 10-year anniversary of that fire is
tomorrow," he said.
Sheriff Mark Falk also said he was comfortable
with the team's efforts, noting that the main
objective is public safety. He said there were
no plans for evacuating any of the Gunflint
Trail, but encouraged residents and visitors to
stay in touch. Fire reports are posted as they
are received on the local internet provider
website www.boreal.org.
Incident Commander Jim Hinds wrapped up the
public meeting by telling the crowd that just
because some rain had fallen, the fire was far
from out. He said fire fighters do not like to
give estimates of the length of time it will
take to extinguish a wildfire, but he said it
would take at least two weeks. Hinds said,
"Everything we've done up to this point has
been indirect. With this change in the weather,
we will be able to start direct attack, with
firefighters on the ground."
When citizens had the opportunity to ask
questions, one asked if the fire had touched
Seagull Lake. Hinds said it was primarily on
Alpine Lake, but it had jumped to some of the
islands on Seagull. He said one five-acre island
was on fire as were several smaller ones. The
team was monitoring them closely, but Hinds said
they would probably be allowed to burn. "We
want them to burn off, to reduce the fuel
load," he said. "But you may see us
take action if the fire jumps."
As the group dispersed, another citizen
expressed concern about the two-week estimate.
Forest Service Public Relations Officer Donna
Hart explained that some of the time would be
spent "mopping up" after the blaze is
contained.
At 10 a.m. on August 11, US Forest Service
spokesperson Allen Bier reported that the fire
was 15% contained. He said it had advanced
toward Seagull Lake a little more, but that it
had not reached the Palisades. Good weather was
allowing ground work and the firefighters were
doing "burn outs" to slow the fire's
progress.
The number of personnel assigned to the fire at
this point is 200. Approximately 16 campsites on
five lakes have been closed; they include sites
on Grandpa, Seagull, Saganaga, Alpine and Red
Rock. The portage between Alpine and Seagull
lakes is also closed.
To prevent further fire incidents, fire
restrictions in the blowdown area of the BWCAW
were placed in effect on Friday, August 12. Restrictions
state:
*Use of campfires or wood/charcoal burning
stoves is not allowed in the restricted area.
*Exception: Campfires will be allowed, any time
of day, at Trails End, Iron Lake, East Bearskin
and Flour Lake developed campgrounds, ONLY in
fire grates.
*Campfire restrictions also apply to PowWow and
Eagle Mountain/Brule Trails
*The Kekekabic Trail, east of Disappointment
Lake, and the Border Route Trail and connector
trails will be closed to all use.
*Use of gas or propane cook stoves will be
allowed anywhere in the restricted area at any
time of the day.
At press time, the Cook County Star learned that
a group of Seagull Lake property owners upset
about the burn outs being done along the
shoreline were planning a flotilla on the lake
to protest the Forest Service plans.
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