ELY, Minn. – Firefighters have surrounded the 62-acre Delta Lake fire east of Ely with hoses, but, cautioned fire management leaders, hose lines do not necessarily meant the fire is contained. Most at risk is a blow-down area, with downed timber that’s chest-high in places. Aircraft have been dropping water to assist crews on the ground. The Delta Lake fire, in the Superior National Forest just outside the Boundary Waters wilderness, was caused by lightning.
Blow-down . Rangers are racing against the Delta Lake wildfire to thin out wind-downed timber that could become fire fodder if flames leapfrog outside hose line.