Keith Vandervort
REGIONAL Wildland fires are continuing to keep officials on the Superior National Forest busy this summer. Just as the Forest Service announced it was lifting closures put in place for the Delta Fire, near the Fernberg Road east of Ely, they began water drops on two new fires while they continue to monitor several other new blazes, reported in the wake of thunderstorms that hit the area last Friday and again on Monday.
While rains associated with that storm provided temporary relief from the very high fire danger, last weekend’s hot, dry, and windy weather quickly elevated fire conditions and increased fire activity with the new ignitions.
Two new fires were discovered Monday, U.S. Forest Service officials said.
The Ima Fire, about five miles west of Snowbank, and the Slowfoot Fire, about one mile southeast of the 62-acre Delta Lake Fire east of Ely, were being assessed and monitored Tuesday.
âI talked to someone in Ely this morning and they didn t get any rain from last night s (Monday evening) storm,â Joanna Gilkeson, U.S. Forest Service public affairs specialist said. âFrom what I m seeing, the rain is really spotty, so we re not getting rain in the spots we need.â
Wildfires, all suspected to be lightning-caused, are popping up daily in the northern reaches of Minnesota.
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