Cavity Lake Fire
From BWCAWiki
The Cavity Lake Fire was a large 31,830 acre forest fire in the Seagull Lake-Gabimichigami Lake area in the east-central Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The fire was first spotted on July 14, 2006, and it quickly spread during a period of dry, warm weather and gusty winds. The fire was slowed and then stopped by rains in late July, which allowed fire fighters to construct fire breaks and put out hot spots. It was the largest fire in the BWCAW in over a century, and burned forests heavily damaged by the 1999 blowdown.
As a result of a $10 million effort involving more than 400 firefighters, and repeated rainstorms in late July, the fire was 95% contained on August 8.
A smaller fire was burning simultaneously near Bald Eagle Lake in the south-central BWCAW, as well as numerous minor fires in the Quetico.
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Location and extent
In a clockwise direction, the perimeter of the forest fire connects Three Mile Island on southern Seagull Lake, Paulson Lake, Gillis Lake, Mora Lake, Little Saganaga Lake, Gabimichigami Lake, Ogishkemuncie Lake, Nawakwa Lake, Red Rock Lake, and Alpine Lake. This area includes most or all of Rog Lake, Alpine Lake, Jasper Lake, Kingfisher Lake, Fish Lake, Howard Lake, Peter Lake, Paulson Lake, Glee Lake, Fay Lake, Bat Lake, French Lake, Fern Lake, West Fern Lake, and Elm Lake, among others.
The fire has also burned islands on Seagull Lake, including Miles Island and Three Mile Island, which was burned in 2002.
The size of the wildfire has been measured at 31,830 acres and is 95% contained as of August 8.
The last fires of comparable size in the BWCAW were the 1995 Sag Corridor Fire (12,600 acres), the Little Sioux Fire of 1971 (over 14,000 acres), and the Brule Lake Fires of 1929 (25,000 acres). Prior to fire suppression in the 20th Century, large fires frequently burned across the BWCAW.
- Main article: Chronology of forest fires
Areas around Seagull, Alpine, Gabimichigami, and Ogishkemuncie lakes were to undergo prescribed burns by the Forest Service in the fall of 2006.
Origin and development
On the afternoon of Friday, July 14, 2006, smoke was spotted near Cavity Lake, southwest of Seagull Lake in the east-central BWCAW. The source of the fire is suspected to have been a lightning strike. The source of the fire at Cavity Lake is not accessible by portage or trail. The weather at the time of the fire was extremely hot and dry, with a record high temperature of 96°F on Saturday, July 15, in Duluth.
Despite the hot weather, winds remained light as the fire burned first east toward the South Seagull Fire of 2003, and then west and south as winds shifted on July 16. A nearby thunderstorm on the night of the 16th created winds of up to 60 miles per hour. The size of the fire approximately doubled each day: "well over 1,000" acres on the 15th, 3,000 acres on the 16th, more than 6,300 acres on July 17.
During the day on July 17 more thunderstorm-generated winds continued to push the fire, causing it to increase in size to 15,000 acres, growing mainly west and north of the source. The fire advanced to the southeast during the night of the 17th.
On the 18th winds lessened, stalling the northward and westward advance of the fire. Significant new areas were burned to the south, however. High winds were forecast for the next day, but the conditions turned out to be more humid, cloudy, and calmer than predicted. This kept the fire's advance at a slow pace. Higher humidity and a few light showers continued to keep the fire's growth slow from the 20th to the 22nd.
During the day on July 23, from 0.6 to 1 inch of rain fell across the area, greatly reducing fire activity and ending its spread. More rains on the 24th, 25th, and more than 1.5 inches on July 31 crippled the fire allowing fire fighters to increase containment.
Fire fighting efforts
Equipment and personnel
Helicopters and airplanes with water dumping capabilities were used to attack the fire. Although fire fighters were quickly called in from around the region, the fire initially was too remote and intense to fight on the ground. By July 18 the fire had expanded into more accessible areas on Seagull Lake and Red Rock Lake, allowing ground crews to begin efforts. As of July 23, the number of personnel assigned to the Cavity Lake Fire stood at 409.
Explosives were used to clear firebreaks on the southwest perimeter of the fire during later fighting efforts.
Costs of fire fighting efforts were reported at $10,165,000 as of August 8.
Goals
The stated goal was to keep the fire within the BWCAW, and officials hoped that the prescribed burns east of the Cavity Lake Fire would make fighting the blaze easier should it run towards the Gunflint Trail. The prescribed burns decreased the intensity of the fire, as well as allowed for improved access by ground crews.
Management
On July 18 the Forest Service began replacing the regionally-drawn Type 2 fire management team with a national Type 1 fire team made up of wildfire professionals from multiple government agencies. This team, based in Oregon, is one of only 17 elite wildfire management teams in the nation. These teams are trained and experienced in managing the most challenging and complex fires, as well as managing the personnel, logistics, and communications tasks that go along with such assignments.
The Pacific Northwest National Incident Management Team 2 transitioned back to a Minnesota incident management team on August 1.
As of August 2, "firefighters were concentrating mostly on the western and northwestern flank. Very few smokes were noted on other parts of the fire, although crews continue to hunt for hotspots. Fire behavior is minimal with creeping, smoldering, and occasional torching of individual tress. Fire crews will continue to patrol and mop any remaining hotspots. Hand held heat detectors are being used to effectively find remaining hotspots." [1]
Impacts
There have been no reports of damaged property or serious injury, although there are stories of narrow escapes by canoe campers on Seagull Lake and Ogishkemuncie Lake. Smoke resulted in air quality problems along the Gunflint Trail and in Grand Marais, Minnesota.
As of July 17, evacuations of portions of the Gunflint Trail were being considered as a possibility if the fire continued to spread eastward. Land owners prepared sprinkler systems to protect structures. As of July 18 there existed a possibility that the fire, under certain conditions, could run southeast around the prescribed burns to Round Lake and Tuscarora Outfitters. There was also a possibility the fire could run northeast around Seagull Lake towards Gull Lake and the end of the Gunflint Trail. One group voluntarily evacuated to Grand Marais on July 19 due to smoke.
Outlook
As of August 8, the fire is 95 percent contained and the fire is considered in "mop-up" phase, with only limited hot spots.
Recreation closures
During the height of the fire, the Cross Bay Lake (#50), Missing Link Lake (#51), Brant Lake (#52), and eastern Kekekabic Trail (#56) entry points were closed.
Portages and/or campsites were closed on Seagull Lake, Alpine Lake, Red Rock Lake, Swamp Lake, Saganaga Lake, Seagull Lake, Rog Lake, Jap Lake, Little Saganaga Lake, Mora Lake, Whipped Lake, Virgin Lake, Ogishkemuncie Lake, Mueller Lake, Agamok Lake, Gabimichigami Lake, Jerry Lake, Peter Lake, Gillis Lake, Crooked Lake, Tarry Lake, Howard Lake, Owl Lake, Tuscarora Lake, Round Lake, Copper Lake, Snipe Lake, Missing Link Lake, and Karl Lake.
See the Superior National Forest website for a current closure list, or contact the Gunflint Ranger Station in Grand Marais, Minnesota.
External links
News updates
- Minnesota Incident Command System, in charge of fire fighting efforts from July 14 to 21 and from August 2 to 8.
- Pacific Northwest National Incident Management Team 2, the "Type 1" team in charge of fire fighting efforts from July 21 to August 2.
News from August 8
- Cavity Lake fire nearly history, Star Tribune, August 8, 2006
News from July 23
- Firefighters make progress in BWCA, Star Tribune, July 23, 2006
- Wildfire in BWCA could burn into the fall, Star Tribune, July 23, 2006
News from July 21
- BWCA: Elite fire team 'to jump in hard', Star Tribune, July 21, 2006
News from July 20
- Fire remains uncontained, but moist air prevents dangerous advance, Duluth News Tribune, July 20, 2006
- Fire gains ground at slower rate, Duluth News Tribune, July 20, 2006
News from July 18
- Forest Service: More experienced firefighters needed for Cavity Lake wildfire, Duluth News Tribune, July 18, 2006
- Ground crews concentrating on northwest area of BWCAW blaze, Duluth News Tribune, July 18, 2006
News from July 17
- 'It's a monster' Cavity Lake fire engulfs 15,000 acres, Duluth News Tribune, July 17, 2006
- BWCAW fire up to 13,000 acres, Duluth News Tribune, July 17, 2006
- Cavity Lake fire again doubles in size; evacuations considered, Duluth News Tribune, July 17, 2006
News from July 16
- Cavity Lake Fire continues to grow, Duluth News Tribune, July 16, 2006
News from July 15
- National Guard members help battle BWCAW fire, Duluth News Tribune, July 15, 2006
Personal accounts and stories
- Canoeists receive escort out of fire's way, Duluth News Tribune, July 18, 2006
- Fire in the BWCA, Voyageur Canoe Outfitters blog, July 18, 2006
- Paddlers escape, shaken but safe, from wind-swept flames, Duluth News Tribune, July 18, 2006
- There is sure to be fire..., Boreal Access, July 17, 2006
- Fire in the Boundary Waters, Voyageur Canoe Outfitters blog, July 17, 2006
Photos
- Pacific Northwest National Incident Management Team 2 - Extensive photo gallery, can be used for non-commerical purposes
- Photo Gallery, CavityLake.com / BWCAFire.com
- Photo Gallery, Star Tribune
- Boundary Waters Wildfires Photo Gallery, Duluth News Tribune
- Cavity Lake Fire photo gallery, Boreal Access
- Photo Gallery 2, Boreal Access
- Forest Resources Department, University of Minnesota
