Update: Campfire Restrictions and Closures on the Superior National Forest Recent and projected precipitation, along with the greening of vegetation, has reduced the potential for a fire to start and spread quickly. Therefore, the Forest Service announces the following changes regarding fire-related restrictions and closures on Superior National Forest lands.

 Campfire Restrictions: Effective 7:00 pm, Wednesday May 30, 2007, campfires, charcoal or wood-burning camp stoves are allowed only between the hours of 7:00 pm and midnight within the entire Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). During the remainder of the day (between midnight and 7:00 pm) the use of campfires, charcoal or wood-burning campstoves are prohibited in the BWCAW. As always, visitors are encouraged to use gas or propane cook stoves to reduce impacts to the Wilderness. Outside of the BWCAW, campfires, charcoal and wood-burning camp stoves may be used any time. Visitors are urged to use extra care with campfires and to only build campfires in designated fire grates.

Information from the Superior National Forest posted by Sue Prom of Voyageur Canoe Outfitters and the Boundary Waters Blog. 

                                                              

   As I have been out walking I have noticed just how quickly nature takes action after a wildfire.  Out of the ashes emerge tons of new green each day.  There are blue bead lilies, fiddlehead ferns, and many other new plants;  some of these are already over a foot tall.

    It truly is amazing what nature can do.  The re-growth of the forest is something we will be able to see and experience first hand because we live here.  I never get tired of saying how lucky we feel to live in such a wonderful place.

Posted by Sue Prom Voyageur Canoe Outfitters and the Boundary Waters Blog

We have a moose that has been entertaining us on Clearwater Road.  He is frequently in the road, sometimes licking the salt off the road.  He is never shy and has stopped traffic going in both directions for a long time recently.  We see him so often, we have nick named him 'Buddy'. 

Precisely at 8:00 a.m. yesterday, with eighty or more Gunflint and Grand Marais residents looking on, Leanne Adams, president of the Seagull-Sag Home Owners Association cut the ribbon officially re-opening the last remain section of the Gunflint Trail. Cheers went up as the first six cars and trucks trailering boats "going fishing" passed through the now opened roadblock. Following the ribbon cutting many of the participants drove to Seagull Lake's Blankenburg landing for the ceremonial planting of white pines.

Yesterday, as we were cutting and piling brush, we noticed some familiar white things in the air.  Yes, it was snowing on Gunflint Lake.  My first question was, "Where was this when we wanted it in February?!"  But my next thought was that moisture in any form is most welcome.  Light rain occasionally mixed with the flakes, and although it wasn't measureable, it was still great to see.  This morning when I woke up, the Canadian hills across from me had a white dusting.  All of this is good news for helping to cool off from the heat of the last two weeks' activities.

Now in the late afternoon, it is sunny and cool, the sky is a lovely blue and the lake is rolling along.  The restricitions have been lifted, allowing boat access on Gunflint Lake.  I hope soon we will see and hear boats traveling by, filled with fishermen anxious to test the waters and find some walleye and trout.  The weather report says that it will warm up in a day or so, and I expect I won't be seeing snow again for several months.

As the fire reaches containment, the BWCA entry points are re-opening.  On May 20th the following entry points will be open:

39 Baker, 40 Homer, 41 Brule, 43 Bower Trout, 44 Ram, 45 Morgan, 47 Lizz/Swamp, 48 Meeds, 60 Duncan, 61 Daniels, 62 Clearwater, 64 East Bearskin, 66 Crocodile, 68 Pine, 69 John, 70 North Fowl.

On the remaining entry points, you can now make reservations for any time June 14th or later.  The forest service will be evaluating these entry points and opening as soon as possible. 

Please call your Gunflint Trail Outfitter for more information and to plan your canoe trip or summer vacation!

First of all thank you to those who have sent emails with offers to assist.  We will be passing these on and will get back to you, but thank you so much for thinking of the people of the Gunflint Trail and they are very touched by your thoughts, willingness to help and generosity.

The inciweb site has been having difficulties so I have found the best sources of information to be from www.boreal.org.  Official information is found at www.mnics.org.  The Duluth News Tribune also seems to have a secret source and has had updated information posted on their website very early.  There are additional mandatory evacuations this afternoon including all of Gunflint Lake as well as currently a voluntary cautionary evacuation of the Poplar Lake area.  Sue Prom from Voyageur Canoe Outfitters has an extremely informative blog at www.boundarywatersblog.com.

A Fire Donation Team has been setup at the Senior Center.  Please call 387-1872 for more information and/or to donate.

Thank you!

As most are already aware, there is a wildfire affecting areas at the end of the Gunflint Trail.  For the most up to date information, please refer to the following website:  http://www.inciweb.org/incident/660/ 

www.boreal.org is also a great resource for public information announcements.

Also, please be aware that there are now restrictions in place restricting ALL burning, including campfires.  There is EXTREMELY high fire danger in this part of the state so please, please do not have a fire for any reason.

Please have all those affected by this fire in your thoughts and prayers… and please stay tuned for any volunteer opportunities.  Thank you and take care.