Greenwood Fire closure lifted

On Monday afternoon, the U.S. Forest Service announced that it will be lifting the Greenwood Fire Closure, which has been in place since August. This announcement does not include the McDougal Lake Campground and Trail.

"The closure was left in place over the winter season to allow for weakened, dead or dying trees to fall and uproot naturally with minimal impacts to the public,” Ellen Bogardus-Szymaniak, District Ranger in Tofte said in the release.

Forest staff checked on the conditions in the burn area this spring, and posted signs to notify visitors of potential risks of snags and weakened trees.

Lifting of the closure means the Stony River Observation Site, Little Isabella Campground and Jackpot Trail will open to the public when conditions are dry enough.

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The Forest Service says staff continue to work on the McDougal Lake Campground and trail area. Officials say they hope to have this area open soon as well.

“While the closure is mostly lifted, visitors should be aware of surroundings. Watch for falling tree hazards, especially during high winds, and in wet and flooded areas which can destabilize roots,” Bogardus-Szymaniak added in the release.

The fire was first detected on August 15 near Greenwood Lake in Lake County, Minnesota, about 25 miles southwest of Isabella in the Superior National Forest, and was determined to have been caused by lightning. The last update on the fire was on December 8, 2021. The fire burned 26,797 acres and was listed as 80% contained.