New NIMO team takes over Little Knife Fire response, community thanks firefighters

Over the last several days, the National Incident Management Organization (NIMO) has undergone a transition, as the first NIMO team assigned to the Little Knife Fire has handed over management of the incident to a second NIMO team that recently arrived in Cook County.

NIMO incident management teams typically consist of about 10 personnel and rotate assignments every two to three weeks to provide continued leadership during extended fire responses.

As of Tuesday, July 28, the Little Knife Fire, which originated in Canada and crossed into the U.S. near the end of the Gunflint Trail, remains at roughly 4,958 acres.

The fire also remains at 49% containment, according to the latest update from fire officials.

Public Information Officer Steve Long said NIMO teams are among the most experienced incident management teams in the country, and the transition process includes extensive briefings between teams to ensure the incoming team understands current fire conditions, suppression efforts, and operational plans.

“The transition is official,” Long said. “Authority has been given to the new NIMO team to manage the fire.”

The majority of the NIMO team has moved its operations from the Cook County Community Center to near the end of the Gunflint Trail, placing incident management personnel closer to the fire area and crews working in the field.

According to the Forest Service, 128 firefighting personnel are currently assigned to the Little Knife Fire.

Over the weekend, hotshot crews and smokejumpers were inserted into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) by canoe to support suppression efforts. A hotshot crew continues working along the eastern perimeter of the fire, improving portages between lakes that can serve as control features.

Twelve smokejumpers and two specialized wildland fire modules have also been deployed to the southwestern and eastern portions of the fire. Crews are working to secure peninsulas and strengthen containment lines.

Long said communication between firefighters working in the field and the incident management team occurs frequently to ensure the safety of the firefighters and fire operations.

“Communication is crucial,” Long said. “This morning during the operational briefing, the resources that were out in the field were able to communicate virtually with the folks that were not and share information.”

Recent rainfall and cooler temperatures have helped reduce fire activity. Fire officials said moderate humidity levels combined with precipitation should keep fire behavior limited over the next several days, despite temperatures expected to remain in the mid-80s.

However, officials cautioned that the fire is not out.

Long said that while the recent rain has helped, the Little Knife Fire continues to burn deep in the ground, in layers of duff and peat. Forest Service officials have cautioned in past press conferences and public meetings that those underground pockets of heat can become active again if conditions dry out.

“There’s no smoke really that people are seeing, but that doesn’t mean the fire is out,” Long said.

Officials are also conducting daily aerial flights to monitor for new fire starts following thunderstorms Sunday night into Monday morning.

Forest Service officials said on Tuesday that the storms produced approximately 800 detected lightning flashes across Superior National Forest fire areas, with about 40% of those striking the ground. Additional patrols are planned to monitor for possible lightning-caused fires.

Gunflint Trail community shows support

As firefighters continue suppression efforts on the Little Knife Fire, along the Gunflint Trail, businesses and community members have placed handmade signs thanking firefighters and personnel. The signs are one of the many ways residents and businesses are showing appreciation for the firefighters, smokejumpers, hotshot crews, incident management personnel, and support staff working on the response.

Thank you sign posted at Tuscarora Lodge & Canoe Outfitters | Photo by Kalli Hawkins

Thank you firefighters sign along the Gunflint Trail  | Photo by Kalli Hawkins

Thank you signs along the Gunflint Trail at Loon’s Nest Coffee | Photo by Kalli Hawkins

Public meeting scheduled for July 29

The Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department, in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service and the NIMO team, will host a third informational public meeting on Wednesday, July 29, at 7 p.m. at Gunflint Trail Fire Department Hall No. 1, located next to the Schaap Community Center.

The meeting will include updates from fire officials and an opportunity for residents to ask questions.

WTIP will provide live coverage of the meeting through video and audio streaming on the WTIP Facebook page, as well as live radio coverage on 90.7 FM WTIP Grand Marais, 90.1 FM WGPO Grand Portage, and 89.1 FM WKEK Gunflint Lake. The broadcast will also be available through streaming at wtip.org and the WTIP app.

Links here: https://www.facebook.com/WTIPNorthShoreCommunityRadio/ and www.wtip.org.

Public information officers Steve Long and Peg Robertson spoke with Kalli Hawkins at noon on Tuesday to provide the latest updates on the Little Knife Fire. Audio below. 

Kalli Hawkins July 28, 2026