Fire fight in Minnesota shifts to the west near Red Lake

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RED LAKE, Minn. -- Crews continue fighting a stubborn three-to four-hundred acre fire east of Red Lake, a third of which is peat.

The DNR's Ron Rabe (RAYB) in Blackduck urges people to be extremely careful with fire, including campfires, ATVs and agricultural operations during the fall harvest. Rabe says with the dry conditions across Minnesota, any fires will be "a really serious situation and really difficult to put out." Officials say that northern Minnesota peat fire is not contained, but they're not aware of any threat to people or buildings at this time.

It could be a rough day ahead for firefighters at work across northern Minnesota. On top of various peat fires and small acreage burns, red flag warnings are posted all afternoon from the North Dakota border as far east as Ely. Temperatures will be cooler but gusty winds and low humidity will make the area susceptible to fires which can spread rapidly.

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The U.S. Forest Service has reopened lakes in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness that were closed because of wildfires. Fire information officer Becca Manlove says Ensign Lake and smaller, neighboring lakes east of Ely have reopened as well as the Snowbank Hiking Trail. On Monday a fire covering a tenth of an acre was discovered in the far northwestern corner of the BWCAW and crews have been responding with bucket drops from the air. Manlove says campfire restrictions remain in effect and are only allowed between 7pm and midnight. Gas stoves can be used at any time.

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