Massive wildfire no longer confined to BWCA

The wildfire that started from a bolt of lightning east of Ely,
Minnesota has now spread to cover more than 100,000 acres and is
being called the largest fire the state has seen in perhaps 100
years. Known as the Pagami Creek fire, recent dry weather and gusty
winds have allowed the blaze to grow and threaten homes and cabins
in the region.

The impact on wildlife and this fall’s outdoor recreation won’t
be known for some time. One official said that the fire might not
be completely out until there is snow on the ground! As we know,
fire regenerates life in coniferous forests. But this one might
prove to be a bit much.

The scope of the blaze is so large that it has begun to show up
on weather satellite images, and residents in neighboring states
can not only see and smell the smoke, but there are reports of
health issues as far away as Illinois. We’ll continue to report on
this fire as developments warrant.