The Superior National Forest is rescinding the Closure Order for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) associated with the Delta Lake Fire. The area will again be open to visitors on Saturday, July 24, 2021.    

Forest officials are confident that it is safe to lift the closure after the completion of an infrared flight over the Delta Lake Fire this morning which detected little to no heat outside the original 62-acre footprint of the fire.  

“We’re so grateful for the firefighters and the Type 2 Team who came from across the country to help us respond to the Delta Lake Fire and other fires in the West Zone Complex. Although we are confident that Delta Lake Fire containment line is secure, this isn’t the end of the fire season. The drought continues and the fires are still active in Canada,” said Forest Supervisor Connie Cummins, of the Superior National Forest.

With this announcement, on Saturday, July 24, at 12:01 am, the following areas will be open to BWCAW permit holders:  

• Drag Pristine Management Area 
• #56-Kekekabic Trail East Entry Point 
• #74-Kekekabic Trail West/Snowbank Entry Point 
• The entire Kekekabic Trail 
• The following lakes, campsites, and portages: Parent, Disappointment, Jitterbug, Ahsub, Becoosin, Benezie, Adventure, Rifle, Bridge, Fire 

“I also want to recognize that this isn’t easy on our permit holders, cooperators or partners.  I want to thank our visitors for working with our wilderness rangers, clearing the closure area and understanding that this decision was made for safety reasons. I’m happy that we can announce the end of the Delta Lake Fire closure and that people can get back to enjoying this part of the Wilderness,” Cummins said. 

The original Delta Lake Fire Closure Order went into effect on July 9, 2021. The Delta Lake Fire, first detected on July 7, 2021, proved logistically challenging to manage as it was burning in waist to chest high blowdown on the Forest. A Type 2 Incident Management Team was brought in to respond to the fire and others in the West Zone Complex, and support the fire. Firefighters have now wrapped the fire in 4 miles of hose and are continuing the slow and steady process of mop-up. The process will be complete when a 100-foot depth of cold containment line exists around the fire perimeter to secure any hot spots in the fire footprint, which will significantly reduce chances of a spot fire.  

For more information on current closures, visit the Forest website and view the alerts and notices page.  A copy of the termination of the Closure Order and this press release will be added to the website.