UPDATE: An estimated 30 acres of U.S. Forest Service land burned.
On June 1, 2026, at approximately 2:56 pm, area agencies responded to the report of black smoke coming from the north side of North Arm Road on Burntside Lake, approximately eight miles northwest of Ely, up the Echo Trail.
Several area fire departments, MN DNR, and the U.S. Forest Service responded to the area of North Arm Rd and Lindskog Road in Morse Township. A large fire had started approximately 1/2 mile north of that intersection and moved to the north and west into a heavily wooded area.
Initial evacuations were made at the end of North Arm Rd and Lindskog Rd as a precaution. The fire was able to be held with the use of aircraft and helicopters. Firefighting will conclude by nightfall tonight. USFS will remain on scene overnight to monitor the fire. Firefighting efforts will begin again in the morning.
At this time, no structures were lost in the fire. The cause of the fire is unknown and remains under investigation.
Responding agencies included the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Forest Service, MN DNR, Morse-Fall Lake Fire Department, Babbitt Fire Department, and Eagles Nest Fire Department, and Ely Fire Department.
