Date: May 17, 2024, 1:00 p.m. CT
Fire Information: 218-248-7404
Superior Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/SuperiorNF
Superior National Forest website: Superior National Forest - Home (usda.gov)
Incident Name: Fry Fire
Size: 265 acres (56 acres prescribed fire and 209 acres wildfire)
Containment: 75 percent
Location: Superior National Forest. Tofte Ranger District. Currently sound of the arc Trail, 177A on the UTV Trail. See Map: The Fry Unit (72 acres) is located north of MN. Highway 1 and is bound on the west by Fish Fry Lake, north by the Little Isabella River, and east by the Little Isabella Campground. in Lake County, MN (Township 60N, Range 9W, Sections 25, 26).
Background: Ignitions were started on a Fry Prescribed Fire unit at 10:50am on May 15, 2024, under conditions that were within the guidelines outlined in the approved Burn Plan. Shortly after 12noon a spot fire was detected within the overall prescribed fire project area, outside the planned burn unit and in an area of denser fuels. Immediate action was taken to suppress the spot fire using both assigned and contingency resources.
The spot fire was declared a wildfire at 1:00pm CT when it was determined that additional resources not already assigned to the prescribed fire would be needed. In addition, the Lake County Emergency Manager was notified of the situation. Water dropping aircraft were ordered to help suppress the fire and after several hours were effective in slowing the fire spread.
In the late afternoon on May 16, the weather conditions moderated fire activity with full cloud cover and increased humidity levels. On site and additional crews and engines that were brought in from other locations on the Forest were able to start working directly along the fire’s edge in the evening.
Current Status: Cooler temperatures and higher humidity levels continue to be experienced over the area keeping fire activity minimal on May 16 and 17. Engines and crews have engaged on the fire again this morning (May 17) and have continued to mop up hot spots while improving and strengthening the control lines working towards containment. Fire activity is reported as minimal with only a few areas of creeping and smoldering. Minimal smoke is coming from the fire area. There continues to be no immediate threat to private property or structures.
Mopping up involves putting water on the fire, and using tools to mix it into the soil and duff to extinguish the heat until the area is cooled. Containment remains at 75% this morning as reported yesterday afternoon and the fire is not actively pushing in any direction right now.
Planned Actions: Crews and engines will remain on site today and keep working to secure the edge of the fire with control lines and work towards containment. Weather conditions are forecasted to help the firefighting efforts with cool temperatures, cloud cover, and high humidity levels. Fire activity is expected to remain minimal throughout the day. Crews are expected to continue to make good progress securing the lines and keeping the fire from spreading. Smoke from the fire is also anticipated to be minimal.
Containment means more than just constructing control line around a fire. After firefighting resources construct control line, the next step is to remove wildland fuel available to burn and/or extinguish sources of heat by mopping up. These actions are taken to secure control lines and prevent the fire from escaping under the current and expected weather forecast. Once secure, that area of the fire is considered contained.
While we don’t expect the conditions to change, public and firefighter safety are the highest priority so if the fire conditions change, we will communicate that by working with Lake County Emergency Management, and posting on the Superior National Forest Facebook page, Constant Contact email list (sign up here), and notifications to local media.
Resources: Four engines with crews, two off-Superior NF hotshot crews, and several individual firefighters.
Area Closures: None.
Structures: None.
Fire Restrictions: None.
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