Overview
- The July lightning event produced a multi‑jurisdictional complex that now totals about 73,585 acres burned with 823 personnel assigned to the response.
- The largest blazes are the Bear Trap Fire at roughly 37,812 acres and about 40 percent contained, and the Thumb Fire at about 18,134 acres and roughly 48 percent contained.
- Operations focus on aircraft water drops, embedding crews by canoe and plane, drone infrared searches for hotspots, shaded fuel‑break construction along Echo Trail, and a newly installed radio repeater to improve communications.
- Authorities maintain temporary flight restrictions and a permanent BWCAW flight ban, active closures, county evacuation maps and burn bans while portions of the forest are phased open for visitors.
- Heavy downed and insect‑damaged fuels mean smoldering and spot activity could continue for weeks, pressure on local tourism remains, and crews expect to rely on sustained logistics and weather windows to reach full containment.