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Greenwood Fire Daily Update September 11 2021

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Publication Type: News Sat, 09/11/2021 - 12:00

Greenwood Fire information on InciWeb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7805/
Public Information Line: 218-499-9441
Email: 2021.greenwood@firenet.gov
Media inquiries: 614-205-933
For all other fires on the Superior National Forest: 218-214-7844 - Facebook: Superior National Forest

GREENWOOD FIRE QUICK FACTS: ACRES: 26,797 CONTAINMENT: 58% PERSONNEL: 359

ANNOUNCEMENT: A community meeting is planned for 6:00 pm tomorrow, Sunday September 12, 2021, at the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center. The meeting will be live streamed on the Superior National Forest Facebook page. In-person attendees are requested to adhere to current CDC COVID-19 guidelines regarding the use of masks, social distancing and handwashing.

SUMMARY: Started by lightning, the Greenwood Fire was detected on August 15, 2021, about 3:00 p.m. on the Laurentian Ranger District. The fire started approximately ten miles southwest of Isabella. 14 primary structures and 57 outbuildings were destroyed on August 23. The objective of fire management for the Greenwood Fire is full suppression using all available resources.

YESTERDAY: Firefighters completed mop-up along the Highway 2 corridor and began picking up fire hose. They also finished mop-up operations on the southwest portion of the fire west of Greenwood Lake. East of Greenwood Lake, fire crews worked along the fire’s edge, cold-trailing and cooling any areas of heat with the assistance of water provided by J-5s. Hose-lays were installed across the railroad tracks to help fire crews cool hotspots in the southeast fire area. Chippers and heavy equipment with grapples piled debris along Highway 1 where the fuel break was constructed. In the McDougal Lake area, crews continued removing hazard trees and heavy equipment worked in the area.

TODAY: Crews will patrol and monitor the Highway 2 corridor along the north and west perimeter of the fire. A helicopter equipped with an infrared camera will be used to identify remaining heat east of Greenwood Lake and along the eastern fire edge. Fire crews can then navigate directly to those areas and extinguish the hot spots. Dozers and hand crews will build more direct line on the central portion of the eastern fire perimeter. Along Highway 1, heavy equipment will be working to pile debris created during construction of the shaded fuel break. These machines are also moving through the roadways in the McDougal Lake area as crews continue removing hazard trees.

WEATHER/FIRE BEHAVIOR: A cold front is moving through the area today through Saturday. Light rainfall and gusty winds of 20-25 mph may be observed. Fire behavior will be minimal creeping and smoldering, with no growth expected.

SAFETY & EVACUATIONS: The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has opened Highway 2 between Highway 11 and Highway 1 to all traffic. Be alert for firefighters and fire equipment in the area and observe posted speed limits. Evacuation orders remain in place for the McDougal Lake area. For information about getting a checkpoint pass to access your property on Highway 1, call Lake County Dispatch, 218-510-0640.

CLOSURES:

· Highway 1 is closed from New Tomahawk Road to Lankinen Road and only property owners with passes issued by the Sheriff’s Office may travel along the highway. Highway 2 is open to all traffic.

FIRE RESTRICTIONS: Fire restrictions are being evaluated daily and are currently in place for the Superior National Forest and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for areas within state jurisdiction Cook and Lake Counties and northern St. Louis County. Superior National Forest: Fire Restrictions Order for more information. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: MN DNR Wildland Fire Information.

In Depth Operations Briefing for Thursday September 9 2021

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Publication Type: News Fri, 09/10/2021 - 12:00

See attached link below:

Lake County Sheriffs Office Opens HWY 2 to all traffic

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Publication Type: Announcement Fri, 09/10/2021 - 12:00

Highway 2 in it's entirety is now open to all traffic. The following announcement is from the Lake County Sheriff's Office: "As of 8:00 a.m. on Friday, September 10, 2021, the upper section of Highway 2 will reopen. Check-point passes will no longer be needed to drive on Highway 2, however, they will still be needed to drive on the closed section on Highway 1 (between the Highway 1 and Highway 2 intersection and Lankinen Rd). Please drive with caution and be aware that there are still fire crews working along Highway 2."

Greenwood Fire Update September 10 2021

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Publication Type: News Fri, 09/10/2021 - 12:00

Public Information Line: 218-499-9441
Email: 2021.greenwood@firenet.gov
Media inquiries: 614-205-9333
For all other fires on the Superior National Forest: 218-214-7844
Facebook: Superior National Forest

GREENWOOD FIRE QUICK FACTS:
ACRES: 26,797
CONTAINMENT: 54%
PERSONNEL: 367

ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has opened Highway 2 between Highway 11 and Highway 1 to all traffic. Be alert for firefighters and fire equipment in the area and observe posted speed limits.

SUMMARY: Started by lightning, the Greenwood Fire was detected on August 15, 2021, about 3:00 p.m. on the Laurentian Ranger District. The fire started approximately ten miles southwest of Isabella. 14 primary structures and 57 outbuildings were destroyed on August 23. The objective of fire management for the Greenwood Fire is full suppression using all available resources. The increase in acreage is due to more accurate mapping.

YESTERDAY: Firefighters scouted along the Highway 2 corridor to extinguish any remaining pockets of heat. They further secured the southwest fire perimeter west of Greenwood Lake. Fire crews worked with the assistance of the J-5 tracked vehicle, which delivered water to support their mop up efforts on the southern portion of the fire. Firefighters used cold-trailing techniques to ensure that the central eastern hand line was cold and secure. Dozers were used to strengthen the northeastern fire corner near the Stony River grade. Along the Highway 1 corridor, fire crews cleaned up the debris from previous fuel break operations.

TODAY: Along the Highway 2 corridor, firefighters will continue their scouting mission for hot spots. On the southern and eastern fire perimeters, crews will patrol, mop up and further secure the fire edge with handline and heavy equipment as needed. The Highway 1 corridor will see crews using heavy equipment, including an excavator and a chipper. Property owners who travel along Highway 1 today will need to be alert for work crews on the roadway.

WEATHER/FIRE BEHAVIOR: High pressure building into the region will bring a warmer and drier air mass over the fire area with fairly light winds. Afternoon temperatures will be in the mid-70s with minimum relative humidity of 45%. A fast-moving cold front will move through the region on Friday night and early Saturday, bringing with it a chance for isolated rain showers. The fire will continue to creep and smolder with some increased smoke from the fire burning deep in the peat layer. No fire movement is anticipated.

SAFETY & EVACUATIONS: Evacuation orders have been lifted for homeowners except in the McDougal Lake area. For information about getting a checkpoint pass to access your property, call Lake County Dispatch, 218-510-0640.

CLOSURES:

· Highway 1 is closed from New Tomahawk Road to Lankinen Road and only property owners with passes issued by the Sheriff’s Office may travel along the highway. Highway 2 is open to all traffic.

· A Forest Service closure order is in place to protect public health and safety due to the Greenwood Fire. It extends across the Kawishiwi, Laurentian, and Tofte Ranger Districts. On September 1 the closure order was updated to allow use of Stony Spur Trail and a portion of Prospector Loop Trail which allows ATVs to travel safely from Babbitt to Ely. To see the full Forest order and other Forest closures, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/superior.

· The Temporary Flight Restriction for aircraft was removed yesterday.

AIR QUALITY: Minnesota smoke outlook: https://fires.airfire.org/outlooks/Minnesota. Additional information for the rest of the state can be found at https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air/current-air-quality.

Greenwood Fire Daily Update September 9 2021

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Publication Type: News Thu, 09/09/2021 - 12:00

GREENWOOD FIRE QUICK FACTS: ACRES: 26,112 CONTAINMENT: 49% PERSONNEL: 387 ANNOUNCEMENT: Yesterday, the Superior National Forest reduced fire restrictions on the forest, allowing campfires in most fee campgrounds. For further information visit the Forest’s website https://www.fs.usda.gov/superior.

SUMMARY: Started by lightning, the Greenwood Fire was detected on August 15, 2021, about 3:00 p.m. on the Laurentian Ranger District. The fire started approximately ten miles southwest of Isabella. 14 primary structures and 57 outbuildings were destroyed on August 23. The objective of fire management for the Greenwood Fire is full suppression using all available resources.

YESTERDAY: Fire crews patrolled and mopped up the fire perimeter along Hwy 1, Pitcha Creek Road and Hwy 2. Hand crews, assisted by heavy equipment, continued building fire line on the southern edge of the fire working east and west of Greenwood Lake. On the eastern fire perimeter, hand crews and track vehicles improved line and searched for hot spots.

TODAY: Heavy equipment will clean up along the northern fire perimeter on Hwy 1 and Pitcha Lake road. On the west side of the fire, crews continue patrolling and monitoring the Hwy 2 corridor. Hand crews will complete containment lines and mop up west of Hwy 2 to Greenwood Lake with the assistance of track vehicles. East of Greenwood Lake, crews will construct line and look for heat interior to the fire perimeter. Dozers will assist crews east of McDougal Lake road, locating and addressing any hot spots. The majority of remaining heat is in the northeast corner of the fire, where fire is burning deep in the peat layer.
WEATHER/FIRE BEHAVIOR: Warmer temperatures and lower relative humidity may allow some open flames to develop. Overall, fire behavior will continue to be dominated by creeping, smoldering, and burning in the peat layer. The rain received on the fire area has not been enough to penetrate into the peat soils, allowing fire to persist there. Gusty winds are subsiding and warm, sunny conditions will continue through Friday. SAFETY & EVACUATIONS: Evacuation orders have been lifted for homeowners except in the McDougal Lake area. For information about getting a checkpoint pass to access your property, call Lake County Dispatch, 218-510-0640. CLOSURES:

· Hwy 1 is closed from New Tomahawk Rd to Lankinen Rd. Highway 2 is closed between Highway 1 to Highway 11. Only residents/seasonal cabins with passes issued by the Sheriff’s Office may travel along these highways.

· The Temporary Flight Restriction for aircraft was removed today.

Superior National Forest Loosens Fire Restrictions on the Forest

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Publication Type: Closures Wed, 09/08/2021 - 12:00

The Superior National Forest is loosening fire restrictions on the forest, thanks to a change in the seasons. Effective, September 9, visitors may have campfires in designated fire grates in most fee campgrounds. With fall on the horizon, cooling temperatures and recent rains have helped reduce the risk of fire spreading rapidly on the landscape. However, Minnesota continues to have drought conditions, and with the right fuel and weather conditions, a fire could take hold, so the Forest is exercising caution and leaving some fire restrictions in place until further notice.

What is allowed?

Campfires in designated fire rings that have been installed and are maintained by the Forest Service are allowed in the following fee campgrounds: Devils Track, East Bearskin, Flour Lake, Kimball Lake, Two Island Lake, Birch Lake, Fall Lake, Fenske Lake, S Kawishiwi River, Echo Lake, Lake Jeanette, Cadotte Lake, Pfeiffer Lake, Whiteface Reservoir, Crescent Lake, Divide Lake, Ninemile Lake, Sawbill Lake, and Temperance River campgrounds.
The use of pressurized devices with an on/off switch that are powered by gas or propane. This includes gas and propane powered devices such as stoves and lanterns.

What is restricted?

Campfires in rustic campgrounds, backcountry sites, dispersed sites and the BWCAW are not allowed at this time, even with a designated fire grate.
Other open flames such as tiki torches, charcoal grills and barbeques are not allowed.
Campfires and the use of fee campgrounds which are currently CLOSED to the public: Trails End, Iron Lake, McDougal Lake and Little Isabella campgrounds.

While campfires in fee campgrounds are allowed, we urge our visitors to practice caution. Be sure your campfire is completely out and cold to the touch, before you leave it unattended. Thank you for recreating responsibly! For more information on closures and fire restrictions, visit the forest website and view the alerts and notices page.

Operational Briefing for Tuesday September 7 2021

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Publication Type: News Wed, 09/08/2021 - 12:00

Click on the attached link to watch the Greenwood Fire Operational Briefing for Tuesday, September 7, 2021, with Planning Operations Section Chief, Mike Behrens.

Greenwood Fire Daily Update September 7 2021

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Publication Type: News Tue, 09/07/2021 - 12:00

GREENWOOD FIRE QUICK FACTS:
ACRES: 26,112
CONTAINMENT: 49%
PERSONNEL: 344

SUMMARY: Started by lightning, the Greenwood Fire was detected on August 15, 2021, about 3:00 p.m. on the Laurentian Ranger District. The fire started approximately ten miles southwest of Isabella. 14 primary structures and 57 outbuildings were destroyed on August 23.   The objective of fire management for the Greenwood Fire is full suppression using all available resources.

YESTERDAY: Firefighters patrolled and mopped up along Highway 2, paying particular attention to an unburned island of fuel near the southwestern fire edge. They continued to secure the southern and eastern fire perimeters with handlines and mechanical lines. Crews scouted along the Highway 1 corridor and mopped up any remaining hot spots.

TODAY: Fire crews will patrol and mop up along Highway 2, extinguishing any pockets of heat they find. Along the southern and eastern fire perimeter, crews will patrol and secure the fire edge with direct handline construction. Tracked equipment will be used where feasible. Crews will be cleaning up along Highway 1 where masticators were used to reduce the fuel load earlier in the incident.

WEATHER/FIRE BEHAVIOR: A surface storm system and cold front are expected to be over the region today with numerous showers and thunderstorms. Some storms may be strong with a marginal risk of severe weather including damaging wind gusts, hail and frequent lightning. Rainfall amounts are expected to range from a tenth to a quarter of an inch with locally higher amounts. Temperatures will be in the mid-60s with minimum relative humidity of 55-60%. No significant fire spread is expected; however, some creeping and smoldering is possible.

SAFETY & EVACUATIONS: Yesterday, the Lake County Sheriff lifted evacuations for primary residential homeowners along Highway 1, and opened Highway 1 from Lankinen Rd to the junction with Highway 2 to those full-time residents only. Passes will be issued to homeowners at the checkpoint. The McDougal Lake area remains closed. For information about entering your property, call Lake County Dispatch, 218-510-0640. You may also sign up for emergency text alerts and calls from Lake County at https://www.co.lake.mn.us/emergency-management/.

CLOSURES:

· Hwy 1 is closed from New Tomahawk Rd to Lankinen Rd. Highway 2 is closed between Highway 1 to Highway 11. Only residents with passes issued by the Sheriff’s Office may travel along these highways.

· A Temporary Flight Restriction for aircraft is in place over the fire area.

FIRE RESTRICTIONS: Fire restrictions are being evaluated daily and are currently in place for the Superior National Forest and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for areas within state jurisdiction Cook and Lake Counties and northern St. Louis County. Superior National Forest: Fire Restrictions Order and our Campfire Restrictions. See our FAQ for more information. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: MN DNR Wildland Fire Information.

Greenwood Fire Daily Update September 8 2021

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Publication Type: News Wed, 09/08/2021 - 12:00

GREENWOOD FIRE QUICK FACTS:
ACRES: 26,112
CONTAINMENT: 49%
PERSONNEL: 341

ANNOUNCEMENT: The Superior National Forest is loosening fire restrictions on the forest, thanks to a change in the seasons. Effective, September 8, 2021, campfires are allowed in most fee campgrounds only. Visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/superior for more information.

SUMMARY: Started by lightning, the Greenwood Fire was detected on August 15, 2021, about 3:00 p.m. on the Laurentian Ranger District. The fire started approximately ten miles southwest of Isabella. 14 primary structures and 57 outbuildings were destroyed on August 23. The objective of fire management for the Greenwood Fire is full suppression using all available resources.

YESTERDAY: Fire crews and tracked vehicles focused on the southern and eastern fire perimeter and located hot spots identified by infrared flights. Crews cold trailed the edge until they found small pockets of buried heat in the peat soil. They often dug 2-4 feet deep excavations with hand tools and cooled the heat using water or by mixing with mineral soil. Engines patrolled the Highway 1 and Highway 2 corridors and grapple skidders were used to pile debris in the shaded fuel break. The debris piles will be chipped up at a later date.

TODAY: Fire crews will continue to identify hot spots on the eastern and southern fire perimeters. Tracked feller bunchers will be utilized to clear trees on the southeast corner to help fire crews access the hot spots that are buried underneath. J-5s, specialized track vehicles carrying water, will assist in cooling hot spots. Firefighters will patrol along the Highway 2 and Highway 1 corridor. Dozers will be used to further secure the fireline in the northeast corner where some heat remains.

WEATHER/FIRE BEHAVIOR: Fire will continue to burn slow in the peat layer. No fire movement is anticipated on the surface due to high relative humidity and low temperatures. Unsettled weather will continue today with another chance of brief showers or thunderstorms with light rainfall expected. A slight warming and drying trend is expected as high pressure builds in the region later this week. The rain received on the fire area has not been enough to penetrate into the deep peat soil, which is where fire is still active.

SAFETY & EVACUATIONS: The Lake County Sheriff will lift evacuations for seasonal homeowners along the Highway 1 corridor on Wednesday, September 8, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. Only full-time residents were previously allowed to return to their homes. For information about entering your property and getting a checkpoint pass, call Lake County Dispatch, 218-510-0640. Passes will be issued to homeowners at the checkpoint. The McDougal Lake area remains closed.

CLOSURES:

· A Temporary Flight Restriction for aircraft is in place over the fire area.

Greenwood Fire Daily Update September 6 2021

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Publication Type: News Mon, 09/06/2021 - 12:00

GREENWOOD FIRE DAILY UPDATE – Monday, September 6, 2021

Public Information Line: 218-499-9441 or email: 2021.greenwood@firenet.gov - Media inquiries: 614-205-9333

For all other fires on the Superior National Forest: 218-214-7844 Facebook: Superior National Forest

GREENWOOD FIRE QUICK FACTS:
ACRES: 26,089
CONTAINMENT: 37%
PERSONNEL: 357

SUMMARY: Started by lightning, the Greenwood Fire was detected on August 15, 2021, about 3:00 p.m. on the Laurentian Ranger District. The fire started approximately ten miles southwest of Isabella. Thanks to favorable weather and fire efforts, the threat to cabins, homes, and recreational sites in the area is greatly diminished. Fire crews continue to secure the fire perimeter to ensure the safety of residents when they return to their homes and the sheriff will lift evacuations as soon as it is safe to do so. 14 primary structures and 57 outbuildings were destroyed on August 23.   The objective of fire management for the Greenwood Fire is full suppression using all available resources.

YESTERDAY: Engines patrolled the western and northern perimeter of the fire, looking for any heat. Crews completed line and mop up around previous spots near the Stoney River. The heavy equipment task force completed their fuel break and concentrated on cleaning up slash on Stoney River Grade. The structure group finished their work and those resources will be inserted into other areas of the fire where needed.

TODAY: Firefighters will be inserted by boat to begin constructing fire line east and west of Greenwood Lake. Tracked equipment will work on containment line on the southeast perimeter to augment existing hand constructed fire line. Crews will also use the McGregor Lake road to access areas of heat in the northeast portion of the fire’s interior. Along the northeast perimeter, equipment and crews will continue to construct containment line on the fire edge.

WEATHER/FIRE BEHAVIOR: A brief warming period in the morning will precede a storm system moving through the area. Clouds are expected to develop later in the day bringing a slight chance of thunderstorms. Tonight through Tuesday evening, several rounds of showers will move through the fire area, but will not result in more than a tenth to a quarter inch of rain.

SAFETY & EVACUATIONS: At 9:00 am on September 6, the Lake County Sheriff will open Hwy 1 from Lankinen Rd to the junction with Hwy 2 for full time residents only. Passes will be issued at the checkpoint to those homeowners. For information about entering your property, call Lake County Dispatch, 218-510-0640. You may also sign up for emergency text alerts and calls from Lake County at https://www.co.lake.mn.us/emergency-management/.

CLOSURES: · Hwy 1 is closed from New Tomahawk Rd to Lankinen Rd. ·A Forest Service closure order is in place to protect public health and safety due to the Greenwood Fire. It extends across the Kawishiwi, Laurentian, and Tofte Ranger Districts. On September 1 the closure order was updated to allow use of Stony Spur Trail and a portion of Prospector Loop Trail which allows ATVs to travel safely from Babbitt to Ely. To see the full Forest order and other Forest closures, visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/superior. · A Temporary Flight Restriction for aircraft is in place over the fire area.

FIRE RESTRICTIONS: Fire restrictions are being evaluated daily and are currently in place for the Superior National Forest and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for areas within state jurisdiction Cook and Lake Counties and northern St. Louis County. Superior National Forest: Fire Restrictions Order and our Campfire Restrictions. See our FAQ for more information. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: MN DNR Wildland Fire Information.

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