A
watchful eye has been on on the Boundary Waters Canoe Area
since July 4, 1999, when over 400,000 acres of forest were
blown down. A fire broke out this weekend at Alpine
Lake, located just West of the end of the historic Gunflint
Trail and Sea Gull Lake. While this is definitely not
the first fire in the BWCA since the blowdown, the Alpine Lake
Fire may be grabbing more attention as it is in an area that
received some of the worst damage in the '99 blowdown.
August 11, 2005 12:00 PM Alpine Lake Fire
The Alpine Lake Fire within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area
Wilderness
continues to burn. The lightning caused fire is consuming fir,
pine,
spruce, aspen, and birch. The fire has spotted to four islands
on Seagull
Lake.
Approximately 20 campsites are closed within the Red Rock,
Alpine, Grandpa
and Seagull Lakes area. Campsites will be closed and be
reopened as safety
allows. Contact the Gunflint Ranger District with questions
about specific
closures.
Wednesday was a good day for firefighters; fire activity
was low with only
an occasional torching of individual trees throughout the day.
Planned
burnout operations were successfully completed and good
progress was made
with hose lays and sprinkler systems. Structure protection
crews continue
to coordinate efforts with local property owners.
There is a 40% chance of showers over the fire today with a
possibility of
.1 to .2 inches of rain. Winds will be from the south at 8-10
mph.
Increased humidity and low wind should give the firefighters
the
opportunity to solidify containment lines. Thursday night
there is the
possibility of isolated thunderstorms; however the main storm
is expected
to remain south of Duluth.
Operations planned for today include a continuation of
indirect line
construction between the lakes. The fire will be attacked
directly where
it has reached the shore to secure and minimize further
damage. A direct
attack is planned in the southwest portion of the fire where
burnout
operations have been completed. Another burnout is planned for
today if
the weather cooperates. This is done to consume fuel between
the wildfire
and a firebreak suppression forces want to establish.
Two twenty-person crews are establishing spike camps near
the west end of
the fire. One ten-person crew remains in a spike camp on
Grandpa Lake.
Alpine Fire Facts:
Safety of personnel, residents and visitors continue to be
the top
priority.
No evacuations are planned or in progress at this time.
Date started: 8/6/05 Cause: Lightning
Current Size: 1040 acres Percent Containment: 15%
Number of Personnel: 210 Estimated containment: Unknown
Location: NE MN near the end of the Gunflint Trail between
Alpine, Seagull,
Red Rock and Grandpa Lakes
Minimum Impact Suppression Tools will be used (these are light
on the land
tactics including, using natural barriers, hose lays to make
wet line, and
geographic barriers.)
There is a Unified Command between the USFS, MN DNR, and
the Cook County
Sheriff. An Incident Management Team involving all
wildfire-fighting
agencies in Minnesota is in charge of fire fighting
operations.
Fire restrictions in the Blowdown area are being planned
for the 1201 AM
Friday. Level 2 restrictions state:
× Uses of campfires or wood/charcoal burning stoves are 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 apply to PowWow and Eagle Mt./ Brule
Trails
× The Kekekabic Trail, east of Disappointment Lake, and the
Border
Route Trail (with associated 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.
