The Foss Lake wildfire on the southeastern edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness continued to burn Monday, but fire officials said "It was a good day," and the fire is 45 percent contained.

Although virtually all of the fire is in the BWCA, and the Crab Lake entry point is closed, officials said all other entry points are open and vacationers are going in regularly.

Part of the area burning was scheduled to undergo a prescribed burn anyway, said Rebecca Manlove, spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service.

The fire is burning over 1,008 acres, she said. About 279 firefighters are working on the burn, although that number is expected to drop Tuesday, as two volunteer departments are no longer needed, she said.

PAT PHEIFER