ISABELLA, Minn. – The Greenwood Fire swelled out of control to 34 square miles of boreal forest, scorching three homes and cabins. That brought the total loss of structures to 12 homes or cabins and 57 outbuildings. The Forest Service has bulked up its fire-fighting crew to 400. Even so, the Greenwood Fire, the nearby Greenwood Lake and Whelp fires and other lightning-caused wildlfires have stretched resources too thin to ensure the safety of paddlers and campers.The whole Superior National Forest region has been closed to visitors for a week. About 280 homes and cabins have been evacuated southwest of of Isabella.
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Earlier: Greenwood Fire widens footprint in Laurentian District
Up close. Too close. Right in the smoke and flames, firefighters hunker down as the Greenwood Fire explodes in Boundary Waters Area. The fire doubled in 24 hours. Image: U.S. Forest Service