Update on Saturday, June 6 on fire north of North Arm Road:
Incident Name: Birch Bay Fire Size: 33 acres
Cause: Equipment Use (likely chainsaw) Containment: 90% Personnel: 72
Location: West of the North Arm of Burntside Lake, approximately 8 miles northwest of Ely, MN.
Key Message: Containment has increased to 90% after Thursday’s rainfall moderated fire behavior, allowing crews to make additional progress on containment lines. The total size of the incident has been updated to 33 acres to reflect more accurate aerial mapping using thermal infrared imaging. While Thursday evening’s rain was an aid to the firefighting effort, conditions are still dry in the area. A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources-State Fire Investigator has determined that the fire likely originated during chainsaw operations associated with fuels reduction and prescribed fire preparation work being conducted by U.S. Forest Service personnel. Inquiries regarding the origin investigation should be sent to Public Affairs Officer Joy VanDrie via email: [email protected].
Operations: Crews continue to secure and mop up lingering hot spots. Rainfall from the previous evening had a significant impact on reducing heat within the fire perimeter. Resources remaining on the incident will continue to search and grid for remaining heat up to 60 feet within the perimeter. Mop-up operations will continue and firefighters will be available for initial attack response to any new incidents within the local area.
Planned Activity: The primary objective today is to begin the transition of command back to the local unit and prepare for demobilization of MNICS Team A. Crews will continue to work on mop-up and patrolling for any new hotspots, while the Great Lakes Wildland Fire Module’s Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) will scan the area for hotspots using thermal infrared imaging. UAS can help provide real –time situational awareness while improving firefighter safety by completing missions normally done by persons in aircraft or on the ground. The fire will transition back to the local unit tomorrow morning. A qualified Type 4 Incident Commander will oversee the remaining operations including fire patrols and hazard identification and mitigation. This will be the last update provided by MNICS Team A.
Evacuations: All evacuations have been lifted. To sign up for future evacuation and emergency alerts from the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, please visit https://sheriff-slcgis.hub.arcgis.com/pages/northland-alert.
Closures: There are no current closures in effect, however firefighters and equipment remain actively engaged on the fire. For everyone’s safety, the public is asked to stay away from the North Arm Road area and to NOT fly unmanned aerial systems (UAS) or drones anywhere near the fire area—the Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) remains in place. Please remember that if you fly, we can’t! For current TFR restrictions visit: https://tfr.faa.gov for more information.
Fire Restrictions: Fire restrictions are in effect as of today within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) on the Superior National Forest until June 30 unless rescinded or extended. Gas or propane cook stoves are still allowed throughout the BWCAW. Stoves or grills fueled by charcoal, or any type of wood are not allowed. For current information, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/superior/alerts
