Grass fire suppressed near Summit Chalet on Moose Mountain in Lutsen

At 12:52 p.m. on Oct 1., the Lutsen Volunteer Fire Department was called on to respond to a grass fire on the ski hill near the Summit Chalet on Moose Mountain at Lutsen Mountains. They were assisted in the response by Tofte Volunteer Fire Department, the MN Department of Natural Resources, the US Forest Service, and North Shore Ambulance.

Lutsen Volunteer Fire Department Chief Steve Duclos told WIP that the fire was approximately 50×100 ft, and was caused by a welding project that was being worked on in the area.

Emergency responders were able to stop the spread of the fire uphill. Summit Chalet staff were evacuated from the area via gondola.

Duclos said that the US Forest Service fire fighters remained on the scene to continue to monitor the area after the fire was put out.

The end of summer has included several small fires, including one at Daniels Lake just over one week ago. The dry conditions have also led the MN DNR to issue burn permit restrictions at the end of September, and for the US Forest Service to ban campfires in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness beginning Oct. 1.

Duclos included a reminder in his statement to WTIP, saying, “It is extremely dry right not with no real precipitation in the near future, so extra caution should be used during these dry times.”

Kirsten Wisniewski October 1, 2024