Campfire restrictions in place for portions of the BWCA

On Monday, the Superior National Forest issued new restrictions for campfire use within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW.) Due to continued dry conditions and worsening wildfire danger in northern Minnesota, the Superior National Forest Service issued Emergency Forest Order 09-09-24-08 – that will go into effect on Tuesday, October 1, 2024.

The order restricts the igniting, building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire within the BWCAW of the Superior National Forest. This includes charcoal grills, barbeques, coal, and woodburning stoves.

Officials say gas or propane cook stoves are allowed throughout the Superior National Forest including within the restricted zone.

The Forest Service says these restrictions will continue until further notice.

In addition to the campfire restriction effect, the Superior National Forest is reinstating the Wood Lake Fire closure restrictions, to close Wood, Good, Hula, and Indiana Lakes and connecting portages.

“We have seen warmer and dryer conditions across much of the Superior National Forest, especially within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. We want the recreating public to be safe as they enjoy the Forest,” Tom Hall, Superior National Forest Supervisor stated in a release.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources shows fire danger to be extreme in Northern St. Louis and Northern Lake Counties, as well as Beltrami County, west.

For additional information regarding fire-related and/or forest closures and updates:
• Superior National Forest website www.fs.usda.gov/superior, & Superior NF Fire Management
• Minnesota Incident Command System website at www.mnics.org