Famine Lake Fire
From BWCAWiki
The Famine Lake Fire was a lightning-caused forest fire that burned between Brule Lake and Long Island Lake in the southeastern Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The fire burned 4,044 acres, second only in size to the Cavity Lake Fire since the 1999 blowdown. The Famine Lake Fire was a part of the East Zone Complex of fires.
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Location and extent
The fire burned from Famine Lake (about a mile north of Brule Lake and a mile west of South Cone Lake) north and west to Ida Lake, Davis Lake, Muskeg Lake, Long Island Lake, Jay Lake, Cleft Lake, Cash Lake, and Cucko Lake.
Origin and development
Some 25 fires, including the Famine Lake Fire, were started in the Superior National Forest by a lightning storm on September 7, 2006. The origin of the Famine Fire was a lightning strike at the west end of Famine Lake. These fires did not grow much until September 14, when dry windy conditions fanned the blazes north toward the Gunflint Trail.
A change in the weather bringing cool, rainy conditions checked the expansion of the fires beginning on September 16. Rain during the night of Sept. 18 helped control the expansion of the fire perimeter.
Impacts
An evacuation was ordered on Sept. 15, 2006 by the Cook County Sheriff. The evacuation included Gunflint Lake, Look Lake, Tucker Lake, and Mash Lake between the Gunflint Narrows Road and the west end of County Road 92. This was the first evacuation on the Gunflint Trail since the Sag Corridor Fire of 1995. The evacuation order was lifted on Sept. 18, 2006. Numerous wilderness entry points were closed to the public. There were no reports of injury or damage to private property.
References
- Evacuation of Gunflint Trail canceled, but fires still burn, St. Paul Pioneer Press, September 18, 2006
- Rain puts Gunflint Trail fire into holding pattern, StarTribune, September 17, 2006
- Gunflint Trail closed; fire sparks evacuation of mid-trail, Duluth News Tribune, September 15, 2006
- Minnesota Incident Command System
