Update, 2:15 P.M.: Another 5 or 6 miles looks like at least 10 or maybe 15 miles of the trail east of the current roadblock are being evacuated this afternoon. The new roadblock is at the east intersection of CR 92 and the trail. The Ham Lake fire continues to burn strongly:
The worst scenario happened this afternoon when flames from the Ham Lake fire jumped a safety line and moved toward the Gunflint Lake area, forcing the evacuation of dozens of homes, cabins and lodges.
This may just be a precaution because a line was breached and it doesn't necessarily mean they won't be able to contain it again and hold the area discussed below. WCCO has this from 3:00 P.M.:
Bill Paxton, a spokesman for the fire fighting effort, said the fire was "challenging" the containment lines. "They're holding right now," he said. "We're having some difficulty holding them, but they're holding now."
I'm sure they are giving it one hell of an effort. It's certainly not a good development though. The weather predictions also seem to be holding true, so the wind is going to get even worse. Send your thoughts and prayers to them.
_____________
It's going to be a very tense day at the top of the Gunflint Trail and across large parts of northeast Minnesota. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag fire warning and predicts that the calmer winds from the south will shift to out of the northwest and increase to 20-30 mph, with gusts up to 40. Little or no rain is also forecast for at least the next few days. A large and bold prescribed burn was done late yesterday to deny the fire fuel in anticipation of the wind shifting today. It's being described unofficially as "successful". The Strib and the Duluth News Tribune both have good recaps(subscription may be required) and photos today. From the latter:
It was Sanders who signed the final order to start the fire, hoping fire behavior experts and weather forecasters were right. A 180-degree shift in the wind could have spelled disaster on Sanders’ watch. It was one of the largest intentional fires ever set in the region.
“It’s a little nerve-wracking. … But the choice is do it now or the fire will do it when it’s coming at us,” Sanders said. “We wouldn’t be standing here if this was the northwest wind that we’re supposed to get pushing right at us.”
More details in the extended entry if you're interested.
The latest perimeter map on MNICS.org:
The prescribed burn was in the Division A area. It's anticipated that winds today will push the fire towards that area and the goal was to remove some of that fuel and make it easier to hold the line north of FS road 1347. MNICS also has an Incident Status Summary posted that gives some more details on what the plan is so far:
- Div. A-Hold the fire to the north and west and protect the homes and other structures around Gunflint and Magnetic Lakes.
- Div. B and C are being worked by aircraft to slow the fire down in those areas.
- Div. D includes areas inside the fire perimeter and crews will continue to protect the structures that have so far been saved and mop-up hotspots.
- Div. Z-"Spike forces along the southern perimeter". I saw pictures of crews heading out in boats so I'm assuming that by spike they mean they are actively sending crews out to work that part of the fire.
As of yesterday there were 446 personnel assigned from at least 9 agencies. The fire has crossed the border into Canada to the tune of 200+ acres as of yesterday.
Much of the drama today will be the fight to keep the fire north and west of the road in Division A. A number of homes and cabins are at risk and if it goes out of control in this area I don't know what will happen. Any way you cut it, it's shaping up to be a hell of a battle. If anyone can do it though, those people will. Thank God we haven't seen any deaths or serious injuries yet. I'm praying that it stays that way.
(updated info on main page)
Recent Comments