Overall combined acreage of the July Lightning Incident is 64,103 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 1,066 personnel on the July Lightning Incident and a total of 125 personnel on the Little Knife Fire. Containment estimates continue to fluctuate based on current fire behavior, fuels, weather and using natural barriers like lakes and waterways for containment perimeters. The public can support firefighters and their 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.

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.

Superior National Forest:   Forest Officials announced on July 24 that a Proposed Phase 2 plan - could be implemented this week barring no significant wildfire activity over this weekend.  The proposed Phase 2 Plan would open select entry points on the eastern side of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) to overnight use.  The Forest announced Phase 1 earlier this week that select BWCAW entry points will open to the public for ‘Day Use’ starting today, on the Gunflint and Tofte Districts (Eastern side of the forest), and BWCAW Overnight permits were cancelled through July 29, 2026. Daily, the Forest Service continues to evaluate the affected BWCAW quota permit entry point areas and other recreation areas outside the BWCAW in an effort to reopen select areas (as fire activity, weather and resources allows). A BWCAW Closure Order is in place to protect public and firefighter health and safety. The public is encouraged to monitor the forest’s Alerts webpage and recreation webpage for open and closed areas.

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

Minnesota DNR fire restrictions are in effect.

Temperatures will continue to remain above normal the next few days as a portion of large-scale heat dome currently over the western US moves east over the fire area. Meanwhile, the jetstream will pass through the Upper Midwest as it rounds the periphery of the heat dome. This jetstream will periodically bring atmospheric disturbances into our region and give daily chances for showers and thunderstorms, mainly during the afternoon and evening.

Rain has moderated surface fire activity, but heat still remains in the duff below the surface.

Camp: Approximately 4,407 acres. 39% contained. Location – 5 miles north of Winton. Yesterday, crews mopped up along the southwestern flank of the fire and assessed structures on the Cloquet Line. Today crews will scout and plan for opportunities to construct fireline on the southeastern side of the fire and continue brushing along the Cloquet Line.

Sioux: Approximately 12,615 acres. 27% contained. Location – North of the Echo Trail and east of Jeanette Campground. Portions of the fire are burning in BWCAW. Yesterday, crews continued extensive mop up south of Echo Trail. Today, crews will widen the fuel break on Echo Trail to at least 100 feet. Structure protection continues in the Moose Loop and Meander Lake areas.

Little Knife: Originated in Ontario and crossed into the United States. Approximately 4,958 acres. 49% contained. A hotshot crew continues to work the eastern perimeter, traveling by canoe to improve portages as control features between lakes. 12 smokejumpers and two specialized wildland fire modules were also deployed to the southwestern and eastern sides of the fire. No significant fire behavior is expected today, however heat remains in the duff beneath the surface. Managed by the National Incident Management Organization (NIMO).

Bear Trap (Bear Trap and Dark Fires combined): Approximately 37,837 total acres (29,767 acres in the United States). 38% contained. Location – South of Lac La Croix, 20 miles north of Ely. Yesterday, crews made progress widening the fuel break on Echo Trail to at least 100 feet. Chipping around structures at Big Lake continues today and masticators are brushing along Angleworm trail.

Thumb: 17,236 total acres (16,890 acres in the United States). 56% contained. Remote and located 6 miles south of Gakijiwanong Anishnaabe Nation Canada. Yesterday, a hotshot crew demobilized from the fire via watercraft and today the fire will be unstaffed.

Chub: 344 acres. 95% contained. Location – North of Chub Lake, southwest of Crane Lake. Crews will continue with mop up to extinguish pockets of heat throughout the fire. 

493, Echo 2, Beaver Tail, Ridge, Creek, Marion Creek Trail, Nine, Camp 5/Duck, Bug Creek, Coffin Fires: 64.4 acres combined for all ten fires. All are 100% contained. Crews continue to patrol these fires, searching for smoke and hot spots and extinguishing any lingering heat.  

Long Lake Fire: 15 acres. Crews will continue with mop up to extinguish pockets of heat throughout the fire. 

Little Lake and 614 Fires: For information contact Leanne Langeberg, [email protected].

 

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 kept some of the fire perimeters small in size, but 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 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.