New Wildfires On the Superior National Forest
Jul 08, 2026 01:15PM ● By Editor
From U.S. Forest Service - Superior National Forest - July 8, 2026
Yesterday, five new wildfires were reported on the Superior National Forest; one outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), and four inside the BWCAW.
Fire information can be found on Inciweb and on the forest’s Facebook and Twitter/X social media pages.
Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/
Closures: There are currently no fire closures within the BWCAW; however, the public is asked to STAY OUT of the fire areas for their safety and firefighter safety. Unauthorized unmanned aircraft system (UAS) flights threaten firefighter safety and wildland fire suppression efforts and are NOT allowed near the fire area and are illegal in federally designated wilderness areas.
The following is a summary of the fires:
Personnel: 3
Location: Approximately 8 miles north/northeast of the Cloquet Line near Ely
Cause: Unknown
Status: The fire is burning in heavy dead and downed vegetation. It continues to creep and smolder, with some moderate fire activity observed late yesterday afternoon. Two single-engine float planes supported suppression efforts with multiple water drops. Three firefighters are on scene, and additional personnel will join them to continue direct suppression.
Incident Name: Bear Trap Fire
Size: .10-acre
Personnel: Firefighters are strategizing access and suppression options.
Location: Off the Bear Trap River and north of Sunday Lake in the BWCAW
Cause: Lightning
Status: The fire is burning in a remote part of the BWCAW with very difficult access. It was reported as a single-tree lightning strike with wispy smoke and minimal fire activity. The fire is burning in mixed boreal forest vegetation.
Incident Name: Thumb Fire
Size: .10-acre
Personnel: Firefighters are strategizing access and suppression options.
Location: Between Thumb and Contentment Lake in the BWCAW
Cause: Lighting
Status: The fire is burning in a remote portion of the BWCAW with difficult access. It was reported as a single-tree strike with minimal fire activity.
Incident Name: Section 3 Pond Fire
Size: .75-acre
Personnel: Two firefighters are currently on scene, and two more are travelling to assist.
Location: On Section Pond, east of Lac La Croix and just south of the Canadian Border in the BWCAW
Cause: Unknown
Status: Minimal fire activity has been observed, and firefighters are using a direct extinguishment strategy to reduce fire spread.
Size: 1-acre
Personnel: Two firefighters
Location: Just west of Newton Lake in the BWCAW
Cause: Lightning
Status: The fire is a single-tree lightning strike burning in the BWCAW. Two firefighters are on scene conducting direct suppression.
Suppression in the BWCAW will use minimum-impact tactics whenever possible. Firefighters will use natural features–such as lowlands and shorelines– for containment lines, hand tools, and using water bags to cool hot spots when conditions allow.
About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
Fire information can be found on Inciweb and on the forest’s Facebook and Twitter/X social media pages.
Inciweb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/
Closures: There are currently no fire closures within the BWCAW; however, the public is asked to STAY OUT of the fire areas for their safety and firefighter safety. Unauthorized unmanned aircraft system (UAS) flights threaten firefighter safety and wildland fire suppression efforts and are NOT allowed near the fire area and are illegal in federally designated wilderness areas.
The following is a summary of the fires:
Incident Name: Camp Fire
Size: Estimated 1-2 acres Personnel: 3
Location: Approximately 8 miles north/northeast of the Cloquet Line near Ely
Cause: Unknown
Status: The fire is burning in heavy dead and downed vegetation. It continues to creep and smolder, with some moderate fire activity observed late yesterday afternoon. Two single-engine float planes supported suppression efforts with multiple water drops. Three firefighters are on scene, and additional personnel will join them to continue direct suppression.
Incident Name: Bear Trap Fire
Size: .10-acre
Personnel: Firefighters are strategizing access and suppression options.
Location: Off the Bear Trap River and north of Sunday Lake in the BWCAW
Cause: Lightning
Status: The fire is burning in a remote part of the BWCAW with very difficult access. It was reported as a single-tree lightning strike with wispy smoke and minimal fire activity. The fire is burning in mixed boreal forest vegetation.
Incident Name: Thumb Fire
Size: .10-acre
Personnel: Firefighters are strategizing access and suppression options.
Location: Between Thumb and Contentment Lake in the BWCAW
Cause: Lighting
Status: The fire is burning in a remote portion of the BWCAW with difficult access. It was reported as a single-tree strike with minimal fire activity.
Incident Name: Section 3 Pond Fire
Personnel: Two firefighters are currently on scene, and two more are travelling to assist.
Location: On Section Pond, east of Lac La Croix and just south of the Canadian Border in the BWCAW
Cause: Unknown
Status: Minimal fire activity has been observed, and firefighters are using a direct extinguishment strategy to reduce fire spread.
Incident Name: Newton Fire
Personnel: Two firefighters
Location: Just west of Newton Lake in the BWCAW
Cause: Lightning
Status: The fire is a single-tree lightning strike burning in the BWCAW. Two firefighters are on scene conducting direct suppression.
Suppression in the BWCAW will use minimum-impact tactics whenever possible. Firefighters will use natural features–such as lowlands and shorelines– for containment lines, hand tools, and using water bags to cool hot spots when conditions allow.
About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
