BWCA fire has light touch in some areas

More lakes are likely to reopen to the public, even as firefighters work. "There's a lot of opportunity to get out there," a DNR official said.

By Warren Wolfe, Star Tribune

Last update: July 25, 2006 - 8:06 PM

The Cavity Lake wildfire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness has left some areas nearly untouched by flames, a top state Department of Natural Resources official said Tuesday after surveying the area by land and air.

"You think of this as being a vast charred area, [50 square miles] of destruction, and it's not like that," said Mark Holsten, deputy commissioner. "There's areas that really look bad, but also areas where there's pine trees still standing and parts where it looked just a little singed."

Another good day with high humidity, after several days of light rains, kept the fire in check Tuesday, officials said. The fire is on the eastern side of the BWCA, just west of the Gunflint Trail.

Temperatures reached 88 degrees, with afternoon clouds and rising humidity. Showers and thunderstorms were in the forecast, spokeswoman Martie Schramm.

The fire, which started July 14 with a lightning strike, now is 35 percent contained, primarily along the north and east sides of the fire zone.

Ground crews laid explosive charges along the southwest flank of the fire and expect to set them off today, she said. That will splinter some of the heavy timber blown down in a 1999 windstorm that is providing much of the fuel for the fire.

There now are 443 people fighting the fire, at a cost of $3.58 million so far, Schramm said.

"The crews look like they're doing a very good job," Holsten said. "The Forest Service is probably going to open a few more lakes for public use, maybe [today], another sign of progress.

"But the outfitters are really hurting," he said. "They're trying to get the word out that most of the BWCA is open, and even along the Gunflint you can get out on the lakes. There's a lot of opportunity to get out there and enjoy the BWCA."

Warren Wolfe • 612-673-7253

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