Photo: USFS

From the USFS - Updated May 11, originally posted May 8, 2026

The fire staff of the Gunflint and Tofte Ranger Stations is planning on burning Old Bill RX and Plouff 7 RX wildlife openings on 05/11/26. Both burns are up the Sawbill Trail just south of Sawbill Landing.

As is the case with all our prescribed burns, we will need to ensure that the weather and environmental conditions are conducive to meeting our objectives and doing so safely. We consult with the National Weather Service in Duluth daily when we are igniting to ensure that forecasts align with the conditions required.

You can expect to see signs along roadways near our burns. If a burn area is accessible by ATV or foot, you can expect signs posted where we are going in. Expect significant smoke impacts of short duration during ignitions in some areas. There will be firefighters on site and, if necessary, wildland engine(s). We will patrol our burns any day when fire spread is possible. We may only drive/hike in an area to check, and you may not see firefighters in the vicinity the entire day. During ignitions and for a few days after, the area will have residual light smoke, smoldering, and some overstory trees may still have smoke/fire in them, with creeping, slow-moving surface spread. Our fire staff anticipates this. If there is no threat of fire spreading outside the project area, we will typically allow fire to burn.

If you see fire or smoke in an area you don’t believe it should be, please call the Forest Service. For Gunflint Office: 218-387-1750 and for Tofte Office: 218-663-8060.

 Image: Plouff Creek Project, USFS

 Old Bill project, USFS

Original post:

The fire staff at the Gunflint and Tofte Ranger Stations plans to burn the Old Bill RX wildlife opening on 05/09/26. Old Bill RX is up the Sawbill Trail just south of Sawbill landing.

As is the case with all our prescribed burns, we will need to ensure that the weather and environmental conditions are conducive to meeting our objectives and doing so safely. We consult with the National Weather Service in Duluth daily when we are igniting to ensure that forecasts align with the conditions required.

You can expect to see signs along roadways near our burns. If a burn area is accessible by ATV or foot, you can expect signs posted where we are going in. Expect significant smoke impacts of short duration during ignitions in some areas. There will be firefighters on site and, if necessary, wildland engine(s). We will patrol our burns any day when fire spread is possible. We may only drive/hike in an area to check, and you may not see firefighters in the vicinity the entire day. During ignitions and for a few days after, the area will have residual light smoke, smoldering, and some overstory trees may still have smoke/fire in them, with creeping, slow-moving surface spread. Our fire staff anticipates this. If there is no threat of fire spreading outside the project area, we will typically allow fire to burn.

If you see fire or smoke in an area you don’t believe it should be, please call the Forest Service. For Gunflint Office: 218-387-1750 and for Tofte Office: 218-663-8060.

 Image: USFS