Overview
- The U.S. Forest Service ordered a full closure of the 1‑million‑acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness on July 14 to remove visitors and protect crews as fires spread across Superior National Forest.
- Fire officials reported about 17 active blazes in the forest that have burned more than 33,000 acres and said many fires currently have little containment.
- Evacuations and rescues have moved thousands of people from campsites and waterways with outfitters and agency crews helping visitors reach entry points for safe exit.
- All affected overnight and day‑use permits for the initial closure period were canceled and refunds were automatically processed through Recreation.gov.
- Gov. Tim Walz declared a peacetime emergency and mobilized the Minnesota National Guard as officials warn that hot, dry, windy conditions and additional thunderstorms could produce new ignitions and keep fire danger high.