Perimeter map 5/13-0900
(MNICS map. The full size pdf is available here)
A fairly good weekend on the US side of the border, considering the wind situation at times. Much of the growth in the fire has been reported on the Canadian side. The following are excerpts from Inciweb.org and the perimeter shown on the map above may not be perfectly accurate, but it should be close enough to use for reference if you wish. The fire is now listed as 20% contained and Inciweb shows 949 personnel on scene, though media reports consistently have referred to 600 or so. I don't know if that's because they don't include support personnel or Canadian firefighters or what. Amazingly, no deaths or serious injuries had been reported through yesterday as far as I know. With as volitile as this fire has been, I think that's just outstanding work by everyone involved.
They received a small amount of rain last night and some lightning, so it was a mixed bag. This entry at the Tuscarora News blog says that the north end of the trail reported only .1" but that the center may have gotten more like .5".
On the Canadian side, where it's being referred to as "Thunder Bay 37", it appears that another fire 20 miles north of Thunder Bay was mostly under control and so about 130 firefighters who arrived from British Columbia on Sunday night would be deployed to work on Thunder Bay 37. Earlier reports this weekend suggested that the second fire had diverted some resources from "37". US and Canadian teams are coordinating resources and efforts.
The following is from Inciweb.org and you can get the full details here. Most of the lakes mentioned are visible in the perimeter map if you want a visual reference.
Current status: American aerial and ground resources are being utilized in a unified effort with Canadian counterparts. The American operation is being managed by Paul Broyles' Type 1 National Incident Management Team (IMT). The Canadian Type 1 IMT will be in place mid-day at Sandstone Lake in Ontario.
Good progress was made on the Ham Lake Fire yesterday. Significant direct-line progress was completed on the south flank of the fire finger from the Iron Lake area to Gunflint Lake. A burnout of the same area was completed late yesterday evening. This flank did move some to the west toward Bedew Lake. The east flank of the finger held. A burnout was completed on the northern part of the east flank of the finger yesterday. An additional burnout maybe completed today if winds are favorable. Yesterday's winds pushed the fire north to Saganaga, Spoon, and South Arm, Northern Light lakes. The south, the southwest, and the west flanks of the fire continue to hold. There is one spot-over on the southwest flank that will need to be addressed today.
Canada will continue to focus on three geographic areas: 1) east flank, where a burnout is tentatively planned for today from south of Beulah Lake toward Little Gunflint Lake; 2) structural protection in the Saganaga Lake area; and 3) securing the north end of the fire between Saganaga Lake and Spoon Lake. The Canadian IMT evacuated seven Americans from the Canadian side of the border on Saganaga Lake (Red Pine Island) yesterday. Nine structures were lost Thursday on the north side of Gunflint Lake in Canada when the fire made its wind-driven run.
Incident plans for today: Today, suppression resources will be further securing and holding containment lines, and providing continued structural protection in the Gunflint and Loon lakes areas. Last evening's precipitation will allow crews to utilize direct attack tactics. Crews will complete and hold the burnout from Gunflint Trail or use direct tactics to secure the perimeter from Gunflint Trail to Gunflint Lake. Crews will also continue line construction from Gunflint Trail north past the east end of Mayhew Lake to Topper Lake to South Lake on the east side of the fire in coordination with the Canadian IMT. In addition, crews will construct direct line south from the Gunflint trail to contain the finger that has burned to the south of Rush Lake. Fire suppression actions will be initiated on the north end of the fire near Saganaga Lake.
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