GREENWOOD FIRE QUICK FACTS           

SIZE:  26,797 acres       CONTAINMENT:  75%          PERSONNEL:  217 

SUMMARY: Started by lightning, the Greenwood Fire was detected on August 15, 2021, about 3:00 p.m. on the Laurentian Ranger District.  The fire started approximately ten miles southwest of Isabella. 14 primary structures and 57 outbuildings were destroyed on August 23.   The objective of fire management for the Greenwood Fire is full suppression using all available resources. 

YESTERDAY: The heavy equipment group continued to remove and chip hazard trees along Highway 1. Merchantable wood is being sorted from non-merchantable material in order to fully utilize it. Crews patrolled areas of deep heat along the Highway 2 corridor and found some areas with no heat. Crews using heavy equipment continued their work to remove snags and hazard trees around McDougal Lake --the objective of the fire crews is to reduce the number of hazardous, fire-damaged trees in this area to make it safe for people to return.

TODAY: Fire crews continue to search for and cool hot spots along the fire perimeter in numerous locations. Firefighters will rehabilitate areas of fire line construction. Patrolling for hot spots continues, and crews will begin working to reduce hazards into the interior of the fire perimeter.

WEATHER/FIRE BEHAVIOR: The next storm system will move through the     Arrowhead Region with showers and thunderstorms likely Thursday into   Friday. Some storms may be strong to severe Thursday afternoon with    gusty winds, hail, and dangerous lightning possible. Rainfall totals   are expected to be a half to one inch and possibly locally heavier     amounts into Friday. Fire behavior concerns for Thursday are minimal,  but warmer weather over the weekend will dry vegetation, making it available as fuel for fire.  

SAFETY & EVACUATIONS: The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has opened Highway 2 between Highway 11 and Highway 1 to all traffic. Be alert for firefighters and fire equipment in the area and observe posted speed limits. For information about getting a checkpoint pass to access your property on Highway 1, call Lake County Dispatch, 218-510-0640.  

Evacuation orders remain in place for the McDougal Lake area. 

CLOSURES:

• Highway 1 is closed from the Highway 1 and Highway 2 intersection to Lankinen Road and only property owners with passes issued by the Sheriff’s Office may travel along the highway. Highway 2 is open to all traffic.

• National Forest System lands, roads and recreation areas are closed in the area of the Greenwood Fire to protect public health and safety. The closure area extends across the Kawishiwi, Laurentian, and Tofte Ranger Districts and includes several Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Entry Points. To see the full Forest order and other Forest closures, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/superior.

FIRE RESTRICTIONS: Fire restrictions are being evaluated daily and are currently in place for the Superior National Forest and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for areas within state jurisdiction, Cook and Lake Counties, and northern St. Louis County. See the Superior National Forest Fire Restrictions Order and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources MN DNR Wildland Fire Information for more information.