Remaining northern Minnesota wildfires approaching full containment
Documenting the wildfires in the BWCA
In "From Shoreline to Fireline" the U.S. Forestry Service is working to document the fight against this summer's wildfires in the BWCA.
(FOX 9) - After weeks of work by firefighters in northern Minnesota, all of Minnesota's major wildfires are now at 95% containment or better, according to federal trackers.
Fires approach full containment
By the numbers:
Two of the fires, the Dark Fire and Wolfpack fire, are at 100% containment, while the Little Knife Fire, Bear Trap Fire, and Thumb Fire are all 95% or better.
- Little Knife Fire: 4,163 acres burned, 95% contained
- Bear Trap Fire: 30,804 acres, 97% contained
- Thumb Fire: 25,014 acres, 97% contained
- Dark Fire: 270 acres, 100% contained
- Wolfpack Fire: 6,871 acres, 100% contained
The backstory:
Dry weather and lightning strikes led to more than two dozens wildfires breaking out across northern Minnesota in July.
The out-of-control fires led to the closure of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and a massive interagency firefighting response.
However, the U.S. Forest Service has since reopened most entry points, camp sites, and recreation areas are back open.
What's next:
Officials said the fires would likely keep burning in some form until the fall snowfall.
The Source: Federal data, and past FOX 9 reporting.