New Wildfires on the Superior National Forest
Jul 09, 2026 04:00PM ● By Editor
From U.S. Forest Service - July 9, 2026
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.
Today, a new fire was reported on the Superior National Forest. Yesterday, four new fires were also reported. Three of the fires are on National Forest System land, and one is on unknown ownership. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is assisting with the suppression of the Ridge Fire and is scouting for another reported fire. All three new Forest Service fires are outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Since July 7, 2026, the forest has had ten wildfires. Today, a Fish and Wildlife Service engine, a Minnesota DNR engine, and a dozer arrived to support operations outside the BWCAW. Additional firefighting resources have been ordered, but availability is limited due to fire activity across the county.
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.
Incident Name: Sioux Fire
Start date: July 9, 2026
Size: 0.5-acre
Personnel: 3
Location: North of the Echo Trail and east of Jeanette Creek and Jeanette Campground, south of Buyck.
Cause: Unknown
Status: Firefighting resources are working on direct suppression.
Incident Name: Echo 2 Fire
Start date: July 8, 2026
Size: 0.25-acre
Personnel: 4
Location: Off the Echo Rapids Road (FR 479 C), north of Echo Lake, south of Buyck.
Cause: Unknown
Status: The fire is 100% contained.
Incident Name: Fools Gold
Start date: July 8, 2026
Size: 1.5-acres Personnel: 5 and a water tender
Location: West of Norway Road and south of Lake Jeanette, south of Buyck.
Cause: Unknown
Status: Firefighters are conducting direct suppression on the fire. More resources have been ordered. A water tender arrived and is helping with suppression efforts. Yesterday aerial resources conducted water drops on the fire.
Size: Estimated 1-2 acres
Personnel: 8
Location: Approximately 8 miles north/northeast of the Cloquet Line near Ely
Cause: Unknown
Status: Yesterday aerial resources dropped numerous loads of water on the fire. Additional firefighters were requested and joined to support suppression activities.
Firefighting resources will continue direct extinguishment strategies.
Incident Name: Bear Trap Fire
Start date: July 7, 2026
Size: 2-acres Personnel: No firefighters on the ground-aerial support as needed
Location: Off the Bear Trap River and north of Sunday Lake in the BWCAW
Cause: Lightning
Status: Yesterday the single-engine air tankers made numerous drops on the fire. The fire was not smoking following the water drops. Aerial resources will continue smoke checks and suppress as needed.
The fire is burning in a remote part of the BWCAW with very difficult access. It is a single-tree lightning strike.
Incident Name: Thumb Fire
Start date: July 7, 2026
Size: 1.5-acres Personnel: Aerial firefighting resources
Location: Between Thumb and Contentment Lake in the BWCAW
Cause: Lighting
Status: Yesterday aerial detection reported no smoke coming from the fire. Today, aerial resources checked the fire and are conducting water drops.
The fire is burning in a remote portion of the BWCAW with difficult access. It is a single-tree strike.
Incident Name: Section 3 Pond Fire
Start date: July 7, 2026
Size: 2.3-acres
Personnel: 4
Location: On Section Pond, east of Lac La Croix and just south of the Canadian Border in the BWCAW
Cause: Unknown
Status: Firefighters are using a direct extinguishment strategy to reduce fire spread. Yesterday aerial resources made many water drops on the fire to low fire intensity to make ground firefighting tactics safer.
Start date: July 7, 2026
Size: .25-acre
Personnel: 2 firefighters
Location: Just west of Newton Lake in the BWCAW
Cause: Lightning
Status: This fire is 100% controlled. 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.
Since July 7, 2026, the forest has had ten wildfires. Today, a Fish and Wildlife Service engine, a Minnesota DNR engine, and a dozer arrived to support operations outside the BWCAW. Additional firefighting resources have been ordered, but availability is limited due to fire activity across the county.
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.
Image above: US Forest Service
Incident Name: Sioux Fire
Start date: July 9, 2026
Size: 0.5-acre
Personnel: 3
Location: North of the Echo Trail and east of Jeanette Creek and Jeanette Campground, south of Buyck.
Cause: Unknown
Status: Firefighting resources are working on direct suppression.
Incident Name: Echo 2 Fire
Start date: July 8, 2026
Size: 0.25-acre
Personnel: 4
Location: Off the Echo Rapids Road (FR 479 C), north of Echo Lake, south of Buyck.
Cause: Unknown
Status: The fire is 100% contained.
Incident Name: Fools Gold
Start date: July 8, 2026
Size: 1.5-acres Personnel: 5 and a water tender
Location: West of Norway Road and south of Lake Jeanette, south of Buyck.
Cause: Unknown
Status: Firefighters are conducting direct suppression on the fire. More resources have been ordered. A water tender arrived and is helping with suppression efforts. Yesterday aerial resources conducted water drops on the fire.
Incident Name: Camp Fire
Start date: July 7, 2026Size: Estimated 1-2 acres
Personnel: 8
Location: Approximately 8 miles north/northeast of the Cloquet Line near Ely
Cause: Unknown
Status: Yesterday aerial resources dropped numerous loads of water on the fire. Additional firefighters were requested and joined to support suppression activities.
Firefighting resources will continue direct extinguishment strategies.
Incident Name: Bear Trap Fire
Start date: July 7, 2026
Size: 2-acres Personnel: No firefighters on the ground-aerial support as needed
Location: Off the Bear Trap River and north of Sunday Lake in the BWCAW
Cause: Lightning
Status: Yesterday the single-engine air tankers made numerous drops on the fire. The fire was not smoking following the water drops. Aerial resources will continue smoke checks and suppress as needed.
The fire is burning in a remote part of the BWCAW with very difficult access. It is a single-tree lightning strike.
Incident Name: Thumb Fire
Start date: July 7, 2026
Size: 1.5-acres Personnel: Aerial firefighting resources
Location: Between Thumb and Contentment Lake in the BWCAW
Cause: Lighting
Status: Yesterday aerial detection reported no smoke coming from the fire. Today, aerial resources checked the fire and are conducting water drops.
The fire is burning in a remote portion of the BWCAW with difficult access. It is a single-tree strike.
Incident Name: Section 3 Pond Fire
Size: 2.3-acres
Personnel: 4
Location: On Section Pond, east of Lac La Croix and just south of the Canadian Border in the BWCAW
Cause: Unknown
Status: Firefighters are using a direct extinguishment strategy to reduce fire spread. Yesterday aerial resources made many water drops on the fire to low fire intensity to make ground firefighting tactics safer.
Incident Name: Newton Fire
Size: .25-acre
Personnel: 2 firefighters
Location: Just west of Newton Lake in the BWCAW
Cause: Lightning
Status: This fire is 100% controlled. 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.
