Overview
- The Birch Bay Fire began near the North Arm of Burntside Lake and has burned about 25 acres, according to officials.
- Authorities ordered evacuations for the Lindskog area and the southern portion of North Arm Road and removed nine seasonal homes and cabins from the area.
- Federal, state and local crews are on scene protecting structures while U.S. Forest Service water‑scooping aircraft pre‑positioned in Duluth have been scooping water from Burntside Lake.
- St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay said nearby camps and the town of Ely were not in danger at the most recent check but warned conditions can change quickly and remain under active monitoring.
- The fire sits next to Silica and Ole lakes and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, heightening concerns for recreational lands and prompting a rapid interagency response to limit spread.