Fire of up to 5 acres spotted in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters

A small fire of 3 to 5 acres has been detected in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, but it was holding in place as of Wednesday morning.

The fire was discovered Tuesday and is located on an island in Wood Lake, north of County Road 18, according to a news release from the Superior National Forest. The area is to the northeast of Ely.

The release said the fire was smoldering and holding in place due to good overnight relative humidity levels and light to no wind. However, Superior National Forest is experiencing drought conditions and above-average temperatures, and increased winds are expected later this week.

The Forest Service is using aircraft to cool the fire and initiate suppression actions. Firefighters are also engaging with the fire, but ground conditions are difficult, the release said.

“This is an ever-changing event, and we ask the traveling public to stay away from the area and seek alternate routes,” the release said.

The fire is burning in timber with a heavy, dead balsam fir component, the release said. The cause has not yet been determined, but the Forest Service said human activity is suspected.