6/13/23 – We just received the official word that there is a fire ban for the Superior National Forest taking effect tomorrow, June 14th. This doesn’t come as a surprise, and for those of us who make our home in the forest it is something of a relief. Since the snow melted in early May we have had less than 0.5″ of rain total, and things are quite dry out there. Fire bans aren’t anyone’s favorite, but I’d wager that wildfires are even less welcome.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the fire ban:

• No campfires allowed in the BWCA until further notice
• Camp stoves that are pressurized and have an on/off switch are allowed
• Twig burning stoves, charcoal grills, and alcohol stoves without on/off switches are prohibited
• Campfires are still allowed in fee-campgrounds on the Forest – This means it is OK to have campfires in the Sawbill Lake, Crescent Lake, and Temperance River Campgrounds so long as you are exercising extreme caution

Here’s the official notice from the Forest Service:

-Clare