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Superior National Forest - Greenwood Lake wildfire update - September 19, 2021

Sep 19, 2021 11:22AM ● By Editor
From Superior National Forest - September 19, 2021

GREENWOOD FIRE QUICK FACTS           

SIZE:  26,797 acres       CONTAINMENT:  80%          PERSONNEL:  196

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: Firefighting crews continued to mop up and cold-trail along containment lines. An infra-red heat detection flight found heat in a dozer berm; hand crews opened up and cooled the berm. Firefighters use Type 3 helicopters to monitor the fire for heat and smoke and to make sure the fire has not gone outside the perimeter. 

TODAY: Crews will delay work along public roads until Monday due to an expected increase in traffic this weekend from hunters and fall color seekers. After working to clear hazard trees from top priority areas like main roads, crews continue to identify and remove hazard trees when located. Hazard trees remain a significant danger to firefighters. Hazard trees include those that have structural defects from age, fire, or disease, and could impact “targets” such as people, homes, and cars. Firefighters continue to rehabilitate control lines around the fire perimeter.

WEATHER/FIRE BEHAVIOR: A strong pressure gradient will continue to strengthen over the area as high pressure moves eastward. Gusty south winds are expected to build on Sunday, from 7-13 mph increasing to 11-17 mph. Stronger southerly winds are expected to gust up to 25-35 mph and locally higher gusts are possible. Sunday will be mostly sunny, and temperatures will become very warm with afternoon highs reaching into the mid-80s across the region. Relative humidity will be from 40-55%.

SAFETY & EVACUATIONS: On Saturday, September 18 beginning at 1 PM, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office began issuing security pass cards to ALL property owners on McDougal Lake Road, N. McDougal Lake Road, Middle Road, and Stony Loop Road in the Isabella restricted fire area. Security pass cards can be picked up at the checkpoint at Hwy 1 and McDougal Lake Road. For information about getting a checkpoint pass to access your property within the fire closure area, call Lake County Dispatch, 218-510-0640.  

FIRE RESTRICTIONS: Effective September 17, Superior National Forest lifted fire restrictions across National Forest System lands, including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness management area. Although campfires, charcoal grills and stoves are allowed, please practice caution by keeping fires small, not tall and ensuring your fire is out cold to the touch before leaving it unattended. Drown, stir, touch and repeat until the fire is completely extinguished. Some fire restrictions remain place for state and private lands, check MN DNR Wildland Fire Information for details. 

CLOSURES:

  • 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.

Greenwood Fire information on InciWebhttps://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7805/

Public Information Line: 218-499-9441     Email: [email protected]     

For all other fires on the Superior National Forest: 218-214-7844    

Facebook: Superior National Forest

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