Starting Monday, campfires once again allowed in BWCA, across most of northeastern Minnesota
Just ahead of the July 4 holiday, campfires in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and across most of Superior National Forest are once again allowed.
Campfires are permitted in the BWCA and across Superior National Forest starting Monday, July 3.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is also lifting a similar campfire ban starting Monday at 12:01 a.m.
A campfire ban went into effect across much of northeastern Minnesota June 14. Campfires were no longer be allowed for the second half of June and first two days of July due to dry conditions across the wilderness and the risk for wildfires.
Recent rainfall allowed the lifting of the campfire ban ahead of the national holiday, according to Forest Service officials.
Ben Roy, the current forest management officer for Superior National Forest, said that between 2-3 inches of widespread rain within the past week allowed for the campfire ban to be lifted.
“We have determined that fire conditions are currently within acceptable levels to lift fire restrictions across (northeastern) Minnesota, including the Superior National Forest,” he said.
The campfire ban essentially coincided with the Spice Lake Fire. The fire was determined to be started by humans who were camping in the BWCA in mid-June. Though it is known to be started by humans, the fire is currently under investigation, Forest Service officials told WTIP Friday, June 30.
Early July is a busy time across the canoe-country wilderness. Visitors to the BWCA should note that fireworks are illegal in the federally-designated wilderness.
Meanwhile, campfires are still not allowed in nearby Quetico Provincial Park. Quetico officials enacted a similar campfire ban June 1.
Quetico sits just across the border from the BWCA in Ontario. It can be accessed from lakes at the end of the Gunflint Trail to the Ely side of the wilderness.
Joe Friedrichs July 2, 2023
