Planned Spring Prescribed Burns

Per USFS:

Superior National Forest to begin prescribed fires
Favorable weather conditions in place for hazardous fuels reduction work

(DULUTH, Minn. April 7, 2026)—Superior National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations beginning this month, pending all required approvals. This work is expected to continue through June as weather conditions allow. Prescribed fires originate from a planned ignition in accordance with applicable laws, policies and regulations to meet specific objectives to reduce overgrown vegetation and help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires.
Prescribed fires planned for the east side (Gunflint and Tofte Districts) of the forest include:
• Fiddle Creek (695 acres) is located approximately 13 miles up the Gunflint Trail and five miles west off the South Brule Road in Cook County.
• Hungry (81 acres) is located approximately one mile northwest of the Devils Track Campground and boat access off Cook County Road 8-Devils Track Road.
• Sunfish Lake (775 acres) is located south of Greenwood Lake off the Gunflint Trail. This unit is combined Forest Service and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources management land.
• Kawishiwi Lakes (1,911 acres) is in the Kawishiwi Lakes Roadless Area approximately 18 miles north of Tofte at the intersection of the Sawbill Trail and the Perent Lake Road.
• Shack Units and Elixir (142 acres) are approximately eight miles northeast of Isabella, along the Wanless Road.
• Tail (456 acres) is located approximately 15 miles up the Sawbill Trail north of Tofte.
• Tanner (226 acres) is located approximately six miles east of Isabella, off Forest Road 172 and Forest Road 174 in Lake County.

Residents may experience smoke during the prescribed burns. For air quality information, visit AirNow (https://fire.airnow.gov/) or download the AirNow app. When driving, slow down and turn on your headlights if you encounter smoke on the road.

Forest Service fire staff will evaluate weather conditions in the hours before a burn begins. If conditions warrant, scheduled prescribed fire activities may be canceled. Additional considerations include funding, national preparedness level (https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildlandfire/prepared.shtml#) , availability of resources and more.

Stay informed about these prescribed fires with individual maps and detailed information when scheduled:
• forest’s website alerts: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/superior/alerts
• social media channels: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SuperiorNF and X https://x.com/SuperiorNF
• InciWeb, the interagency incident information system https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/
• Sign up for e-mail notices: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/superior/keep-in-touch
Zone and individual maps will be posted when scheduled. County emergency management and MN DNR officials will be notified when burning begins.

Maps of the prescribed fire areas will be posted to the Superior NF website and individual prescribed fire information will be posted to the Superior NF Facebook and X pages. Fire staff will notify county emergency management officials when burning begins.