ELY, MN (CBS-3) – Firefighters are trying to control a wildfire in the Boundary Waters, which has burned more than 1,600 acres as of Tuesday night.
The fire is currently zero percent contained.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, the fire, ignited by a lightning strike, started Monday northwest of Bezhik Lake and west of Big Moose Lake within the Trout Lake unit of the BWCA northwest of Ely.
On Tuesday morning the fire was about 10 acres in size, but authorities say a south wind throughout the day fueled its spread to the north.
Fire crews have been using planes to drop water on the fire and are developing a suppression strategy, which includes finding locations to hold the fire with natural barriers supported by aerial water drops.
An air attack plane has been directing water drops by FireBoss airplanes along the north side of the fire Tuesday afternoon.
Private lands adjacent to the BWCA and north of the fire are being assessed and crews are working to set up structure protection measures if it is safe to do so.
(from CBS3-Duluth)
