Update: The Fry Fire is 100% contained

SUNDAY UPDATE: The Fry Fire is reported to be 100% contained at 186 acres. 49 acres are prescribed fire, and 137 acres are wildfire. Crews have completed their work and feel confident that the edge of the fire will not move. With firefighting work completed, the fire is now in patrol status.

The fire size has been reduced due to more accurate mapping being completed by crews on the fire. There is no immediate threat to private property or structures, and the fire is not active.

PREVIOUS REPORTING: Firefighters continue to fight a wildfire in the Tofte Ranger District of the Superior National Forest (SNF). The fire began on Wednesday while the Forest Service was conducting a prescribed burn. As of Friday afternoon, the Fry Fire has grown to 265 acres, and is 75% contained, according to the Forest Service. Officials say there is no immediate threat to private property or structures.

According to the fact sheet on Friday, cooler temperatures and higher humidity levels helped keep fire activity at a minimum. Crews continued to mop up hot spots while working on improving the control lines. The report says minimal smoke is coming from the fire area.

Crews continue to working on the site Friday. Four engines with crews, two off-Superior National Forest hotshot crews and several individual firefighters are working on the fire.

The Fry Unit is 72 acres located north of Minnesota Highway 1 near Fish Fry Lake. The Fry Prescribed burn began at 10:50 a.m. on Wednesday, May 15 and officials detected a spot fire within the overall prescribed burn project area, but outside the planned burn unit, according to the Fry Fire fact sheet. Officials say the area contained denser fuels.

Crews took immediate action to suppress the spot fire, and at 1:00 p.m. officials determined that additional resources were needed. The Lake County Emergency Manager was notified and air support was ordered. On Thursday morning the fire was listed as 0% contained.

The Fry Fire started only a few miles from the location of the Greenwood Fire which started in August, 2021 and burned over 26,000 acres. More than a dozen homes and cabins were destroyed in that fire and portions of the area were closed through the winter for safety reasons.