Superior National Forest widens BWCAW campfire ban

The Superior National Forest widened its campfire ban Friday, adding Cook and Lake county land that lies within the national forest to its list.

The northern portion of Lake and St. Louis counties in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Wilderness (BWCAW) are under “extreme” fire danger, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said earlier this week, and national forest managers banned campfires in the Boundary Waters then.

The counties were added because of dry conditions and worsening fire danger across northern Minnesota, the Forest Service said in a news release, coordinated with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

St. Louis County outside of the BWCAW is not included in the ban, having recently received rain.

Visitors still can use gas and propane cook stoves in the BWCAW and throughout the national forest, but stoves or grills fueled by charcoal or wood are not allowed.

The Forest Service asks that those in a location where campfires are allowed to consider if the conditions are right and if the fire is necessary, and if so, to keep it small and ensure it’s extinguished until it’s cold to the touch when it’s left.