ELY, MINN. – A wildfire is burning in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness northwest of Ely in northeastern Minnesota. The U.S. Forest Service says the fire has ballooned to more than 1600 acres as of Tuesday evening after being reported at just 10 acres a day earlier.
The Forest Service says lightning started the fire on Monday afternoon in an area away from any travel routes.
The fire suppression strategy includes finding locations to hold the fire using natural barriers, supported by aerial water drops. An air attack plane directed water-dropping planes on Tuesday afternoon.
The Forest Service said the fire is in a challenging location to access on the ground. Residents with homes or cabins in the path of the fire have been asked to leave.
