Photo: Superior National Forest

By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - April 30, 2026

Beginning as early as May 1 through May 6, fire staff from the Gunflint and Tofte Ranger Stations within the Superior National Forest plan to conduct pile burning, pending favorable weather and environmental conditions. This is determined each planned burn day, when forestry officials consult with the National Weather Service in Duluth to ensure conditions align with safety requirements.

Burning will take place at the Flour Lake, Atlas, and Squint Lake pile sites along the Gunflint Trail (see maps below). These are smaller, localized projects and are separate from the larger prescribed burns announced by the Superior National Forest office earlier this month.

Community members and visitors should look for signage along roadways, ATV trails, and hiking paths near the burn sites. Forestry officials stated that ignitions may produce brief periods of significant smoke; however, firefighters will remain on-site to patrol areas where fire creep is possible, along with wildland engines as needed. Officials said that crews may only enter certain areas for periodic checks, so firefighters may not be visible in the immediate burn area all day.

"During ignitions and for a few days after, the area will have residual light smoke and smoldering," officials stated. "Some overstory trees may still hold smoke or fire, and there may be creeping, slow-moving surface spread."

If you see fire or smoke in an area where it does not appear to belong, please contact the Forest Service:

• Gunflint Office: 218-387-1750

• Tofte Office: 218-663-8060

 Flour Lake Project Map. Image: USFS

 Squint Lake Project Map. Image: USFS

 Atlas Project Map. Image: USFS