Long 2 wildfire contained after burning 3 acres in Boundary Waters

A wildfire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness that was caused by lightning on Thursday is now 100% contained, according to Superior National Forest officials.

The Long 2 wildfire is south of Pine Lake within the BWCAW. It is located west of McFarland Lake, near the end of the Arrowhead Trail, in Cook County.

As of Thursday, the wildfire has burned approximately 3 acres.

On Saturday, firefighters used suppression tactics, including a small burnout, to bring the fire to Stump Lake, located to the south, using natural features to form the fire perimeter in the BWCAW.

Firefighters will remain on site and continue mopping up using water and hoses to cool hot areas. Aircraft will remain available for water drops if needed.

“The fire is burning deep in the ground, so it may take several days to a week before it can be declared out, depending on rainfall,” officials with the Superior National Forest said.

There are currently no closures in the BWCAW. Superior National Forest officials said the firefighters will continue to monitor conditions and ask that the public stay out of the fire area for safety purposes.

Unauthorized unmanned aircraft system (UAS) flights threaten firefighter safety and wildland fire suppression efforts and are NOT allowed near the fire area and are illegal in federally designated wilderness areas.

Kalli Hawkins July 5, 2026