BWCAW Closures and Fire RESTRICTIONS

PRESS RELEASE
Superior National Forest
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
September 11, 2011
 
Forest Service to Restrict Campfires in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
In light of continued unseasonably dry, warm conditions the Forest Service is restricting
campfires in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW).
Beginning September 12, 2011 until further notice, campfires will only be allowed between 6:00pm and midnight at designated campsites within firegrates in the BWCAW. Use of gas and propane stoves are permitted anytime.
 
All visitors to the Superior National Forest and surrounding area are urged to take care with the
use of fire where permitted. Be sure that campfires are doused thoroughly until cold to the touch.
This restriction includes the entire BWCAW.
Additional Information: As a safety precaution, the Forest Service has closed some of the area
adjacent to the Pagami Creek Fire. Most of the BWCAW remains open to visitors eager to enjoy
the fall season.
 
For continued updates regarding the Pagami Creek Fire see www.inciweb.org/incident/2534

PAGAMI CREEK FIRE UPDATE 9-11-11

TODAY'S MESSAGE: Yesterday's dry air and north winds pushed the Pagami Creek Fire farther south yesterday. In consideration of today's high fire indices, fire managers began a proactive movement of campers from Lakes Two through Hudson, nearby routes, and the Isabella River within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). Specific closures are listed below. Most of the BWCAW remains safe and open to visitors eager to enjoy the fall season.

ACTIVITIES TODAY:

Public Safety crews are sweeping the areas to be closed, assisting campers into other lakes.

Airplanes and helicopters are being used to drop water, keeping the fire within the wilderness and south and east of the Kawishiwi River.

CLOSURES: The vast majority of the BWCAW remains safe and open to visitors. To insure public safety the following waterways and portages are temporarily closed: Lakes One through Hudson, Fire, Bridge, Rifle, the Wilders, Horseshoe, Pagami, Clearwater, Turtle, Camdre, Pietro, Gull, Quadga, Rice, Isabella Lake, and the Isabella River. The southern campsites on Bald Eagle are closed. The Pow Wow Trail is closed. Sites, routes and portages will be re-opened as soon as it is safe to do so. The following entry points are closed: #30 Lake One, #84 Snake River, #75 Little Isabella River, #67 Bog Lake, #86 Pow Wow Trail, #35 Isabella Lake, and #34 Island River. Campers already in the BWCAW will be able to travel through these routes to exit the wilderness but visitors will not be allowed to enter at these points until further notice.

SAFETY: Campfire restrictions are in place. Wilderness wide, campfires are allowed only between 6 p.m. and midnight. Be sure that campfires are doused thoroughly until cold to the touch.

DATE OF DETECTION: August 18, 2011

CAUSE: Lightning

CURRENT SIZE: approximately 4500 acres burned. Acreage is expected to increase today due to weather conditions.

LOCATION: Township 63 N, Range 9 W, Sections 30, 31, 32: approximately 14 miles east of Ely (within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness) in the Pagami Creek area between the South Kawishiwi River, Clearwater Lake, and Lake One.

AGENCY: Superior National Forest, Kawishiwi Ranger District

SMOKE CONDITIONS: Smoke may be heavy and wide spread depending on wind direction.

RESOURCES: The fire is now under the management of Type 2 Incident Management Team Hinds.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Phone (218) 365-3177

Internet: www.inciweb.org/incident/2534 Follow us on Twitter@inciweb