The Birch Bay Fire, located half a mile west of North Arm Road near Burntside Lake, reached full containment by the evening of June 6 after burning 33 acres.
Originally reported at 35 acres in size, aerial footage review resulted in the twoacre downsize to the fire, which likely sparked due to chainsaw work during prescribed burn preparation by the US Forest Service.
Rainfall in northern St. Louis County this past week helped shut down two other wildfires, with another under watch by local officials.
The Ely area saw sporadic rain showers Monday through Wednesday of this week, improving fire management conditions for the Loon, Tiger, and Buck Fires. All three stemmed from lightning storms the previous week.
The Loon Fire reached 100% containment on June 9 after burning a total of 16 acres about 11 miles east of Crane Lake, MN near Loon Lake’s East Loon Bay.
The Tiger Fire faded out by Wednesday after burning just one acre between Tiger Bay and Boulder Bay 22 miles east of Crane Lake, MN on Lac La Croix.
Officials will fly over the Buck Fire to determine its activity when weather conditions permit. This incident is located a quarter mile from Buck Lake, north of Tower. As of June 9, the fire was under an acre in size.
