2026 07 23 BOUNDRY WATRS wildfir LITTLKNFE FE copy - Winona Journal

Firefighters deep in smoke. Can you see them? They are among 950 personnel sent into the wilderness following lightning-ignted fires  in the wilderness.

Greatest losses on Minnesota side of Canada border

ELY, Minn. — Fifteen fires remained volatile in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, including the stubborn Little Knife Fire within 10 miles of the west end of the Gunflint Trail.  Foresters hoped to have every fire under control Friday. Meanwhile, adventurers are bding parts allowed again into parts of the 1.1 million-acre backcountry along the Canada border. The burned acrege exceeded 63,000 acres on the Minnesota side of ghe  border. Canada lost 8,400 acres\.  The public was still asked to refrain from flying drones, which endanger firefighting aircraft. The public also was asked to keep to keep boats off the water in areas where water-gathering aircraft were scooping water for aerial drops.

Earlier: Up North wildfires thickening our air

Earlier: National Guard to Boundary Waters for wildfires