Overview
- The U.S. Forest Service announced a temporary full closure of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness starting Tuesday, July 14 at 12:01 a.m., canceling permits and processing refunds to protect visitors and free crews to operate.
- Federal, state and local teams led by MNICS are using full‑suppression tactics with aircraft and ground crews to fight roughly 16–21 active wildfires across Superior National Forest, including the Thumb fire at about 6,500 acres and the Dark/Bear Trap complex near 2,000 acres.
- Governor Tim Walz declared a peacetime emergency and mobilized the Minnesota National Guard to provide personnel, equipment and logistical support as fire behavior became more active under extreme weather.
- Local authorities have activated Ready‑Set‑Go evacuation alerts for communities near fires, strict campfire and burning bans are in effect, and unauthorized drones are banned because they force suspension of aerial firefighting.
- The fires began after a July 6 lightning event and are being driven by hot, dry, windy conditions plus heavy fuels from budworm‑damaged and downed trees, while National Preparedness Level 4 limits rapid reinforcement from out‑of‑region crews and raises the chance of extended closures and smoke impacts to visitors and nearby residents.