09/04/2026
July Lightning Incident Update, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026
This will be FINAL update for the July Lighting Incident. NIMO Team 1 will transfer command of the incident to the Superior National Forest Monday, Sept. 7.
Portions of National Forest System lands along the northern portion of the Echo Trail remain closed. On Tuesday, Sept. 8, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) Entry Points 12-Little Vermilion, 12A-Lac La Croix Only, 13-Herriman Lake Trail, 22-Mudro Lake Restricted, 23-MudroLake, and 24-Fall Lake will reopen. Recreation areas reopening include Ed Shave Road and boat launch; Meander Lake picnic area, fishing pier, and backcountry sites; and Fire and Ice Interpretive Trail. Approximately 150 out of 2,000 BWCAW campsites have some level of wildfire effects. Visitors entering reopened areas should watch for wildfire hazards and should expect that some campsites and portages remain closed. Prior to entering the BWCAW, visitors should review the Forest’s Alerts webpage for up-to-date information on Phase 10 Reopening of the BWCAW. Fire restrictions have been lifted across the Forest, including the BWCAW. For information on fire restrictions on private and state lands, visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources webpage at www.mndnr.gov/burnrestrictions.
The public is asked to use caution and drive slowly along the Echo Trail, where firefighters and heavy equipment are finishing up chipping and suppression repair along the shaded fuel break.
Boats and helicopters backhauled thousands of pounds of equipment, canoes and supplies from the Wilderness that remained from firefighting activity across the fire areas. Today will be the first day since early July that no operations are needed in and around the BWCAW. Forest Service personnel will continue to patrol impacted areas by ground and air.
Current July Lightning Fires: 71,675 total acres (62,652 in U.S., 9,023 in Canada); 193 personnel.
Sioux Fire: 6,833 acres; 97% contained; north of the Echo Trail and east of Lake Jeanette Campground.
Bear Trap Fire: 39,327 total acres (30,804 acres in the U.S.); 97% contained; 20 miles north of Ely.
Thumb Fire: 25,515 total acres (20,515 in the U.S); 97% contained; six miles south of Gakijiwanong Anishnaabe Nation, Canada.
Weather and Fire Behavior: Thursday’s rain lingered into Friday bringing wetting rains of roughly 0.5 to 0.75 inch to the footprint of the fires. Increased chances of precipitation into next week will continue to dampen residual areas of heat. Little to no fire behavior was observed with no growth or smoke seen on perimeters.
Flight Restrictions: Temporary flight restrictions (TFR) have been rescinded.