Crews contain wildfire near Daniels Lake up the Gunflint Trail

Story updated at 1:18 p.m. 

After days of battling a wildfire at Daniels Lake near the Mid-Trail of the Gunflint and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), firefighters have contained the fire.

The Daniels Lake fire began on the afternoon of Sept. 22. The Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department (GTVFD) and the U.S. Forest Service responded to the initial fire. On Sept. 23, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) deployed wildland personnel and took over fire operations.

As of noon on Sept. 23, Aaron Mielke, a forester and wildland firefighter at the Grand Marais DNR office, told WTIP the fire was approximately 7 acres. Mielke said crews had completed 50 percent of the handline and hose lay around the fire. Line work will continue around the fire. The DNR dispatched a dozer to open an old forest access route to gain better access to the fire, Mielke said, and will use the dozer to construct a dozer line around portions of the fire. 

On Sept. 24 at approximately, 10 a.m. the Minnesota Incident Command said crews had made good progress and the now 10-acre fire was 100 percent contained.

“Minnesota DNR fire personnel will be on site over the next few days, continuing to mop up,” Minnesota Incident Command said in a Facebook post. “The public is asked to avoid the Clearwater Road/Daniels Lake Trail if possible for their own safety and the safety of wildland firefighters working in the area.”

Kalli Hawkins September 24, 2024