Overall combined acreage of the July Lightning Incident is 63,893 acres in the United States and an additional 8,443 acres in Canada. Estimated acreage of the Little Knife Fire is 4,958 acres. There is a total of 1,096 personnel on the July Lightning Incident and a total of 69 personnel on the Little Knife Fire. Containment estimates continue to increase based on current fire behavior, fuels, weather and utilizing natural barriers like lakes and waterways for containment perimeters. Containment is a dynamic figure that can rise and fall based on fire activity. The public can support firefighters and public safety by adhering to all evacuations, closures, and fire restrictions; by refraining from flying drones, which endanger firefighting aircraft; and by keeping boats off the water in areas where water-gathering aircraft are operating.

Ongoing assessments, mapping adjustments, and field observations continue to refine the status of each fire within this incident. Updates will reflect the most accurate information available as conditions evolve.

An interactive map is available for residents and property owners to determine evacuation levels for their property. Residents and property owners can search this map by address to determine exact locations and evacuation levels. Click on the county name below for county-specific information.

St. Louis County: No changes to evacuation levels since Wednesday, July 22. “Ready” and “Set” zones west of the Echo Trail and the Crane Lake area have been completely lifted. Please visit the St. Louis County Emergency Management website for more information. St Louis County is not offering escorted re-entry of any of the “Go” evacuation areas currently due to fire behavior and proximity to the fire area.

Superior National Forest:   The Forest announced that select BWCAW entry points will open to the public for ‘Day Use’ on July 27, on the Gunflint and Tofte Districts (Eastern side of the forest), and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) Overnight’ permits will be cancelled through July 29, 2026. Forest Officials anticipate the ability to open select portions this next week to overnight use – barring no significant wildfire activity over the upcoming weekend. In an effort to re-open select areas of the BWCAW (as fire activity, weather and resources allows) the Forest Service continues to evaluate the affected BWCAW quota permit entry point areas for use on a daily basis.  A BWCAW Closure Order is in place to protect public and firefighter health and safety.

Superior National Forest Forest-wide Fire Restrictions are in effect.

Minnesota DNR fire restrictions are in effect.

The combination of very warm temperatures, relatively dry air, and southwesterly winds gusting 25-30 mph will create near critical fire weather conditions today. The afternoon is forecasted for daytime heating and strong wind gusts. Forecasted thunderstorms capable of producing frequent lightning, brief downpours, small hail, and very gusty winds are possible tonight. However, this scenario will be dependent on whether storms occur this afternoon. If the afternoon storms do not occur, then the atmosphere will have more fuel for tonight’s thunderstorms.

Peak fire weather conditions for the current drying trend are expected today. The trajectory of increasing fire activity will accelerate through today with increasing surface fire spread, isolated torching, and spotting where heat remains along unburned vegetation fuels.

The Chub Fire is the most active fire in this area. Crews are identified to assist with initial attack for any new fires that are detected.

On the evening of July 6, a dry thunderstorm moved across northeastern Minnesota and southern Canada resulting in more than 1,000 lightning strikes, causing dozens of fire starts. As unprecedented dry and warm conditions followed in the days after, fires were detected across Cook, Lake and St. Louis counties. Where fires were accessible by ground, firefighters were able to work to keep some of the fire perimeters small in size, however due to the number of fires, locations and number of firefighters and equipment, some of the fires continued to smolder and grow in the following days. Local fire managers ordered many additional resources including engines, hand crews, aviation resources and two incident management teams to support the firefighting efforts. While some of the fires were contained, several have continued to grow due to record breaking high temperatures and low humidity. Additional firefighters, equipment and support staff continue to be ordered as needed.