06/02/2026
Birch Bay Fire Update
Date: June 2, 2026 1:00 PM
Fire Information: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mnsuf-birch-bay-fire
Incident Name: Birch Bay Fire
Size: Estimated at 30-35 acres
Personnel: 65
Location: West of the North Arm of Burntside Lake, approximately 8 miles northwest of Ely, MN.
Current Status: Mid-afternoon on June 1st, a wildfire was detected approximately ½ mile west of the Lindskog Road/North Arm Road and west of the North Arm of Burntside Lake on the Kawishiwi Ranger District of the Superior National Forest. The cause of the fire is unknown and under investigation. The Birch Bay Fire has burned into part of an established prescribed fire unit called Geraldine. Crews are looking at opportunities to go direct and are evaluating lines that were established for the prescribed fire. All suppression tactics are being looked at and are being evaluated for safety to responders and the public.
Fire engines, tracked vehicles, and wildfire modules are on scene, and a Hot Shot crew has been ordered. A combination of helicopters with water buckets and CL-415 Super Scooper airplanes were used to make water drops on the fire. Hot temperatures, low relative humidity levels, and light southeast winds pushed the fire to move to the west/northwest and increase in size from the initial 3 acres to an estimated 30 acres by sunset. Partner agencies including the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Morse-Fall Lake Fire Department, Babbitt Fire Department, Ely Fire Department, and Eagles Nest Fire Department all responded to assist with fire suppression, structure protection, and emergency evacuation on the Lindskog Road. Firefighters remained assigned to the fire overnight to monitor fire activity.
Planned Actions: Today, additional fire crews and equipment have arrived and will join those that were assigned yesterday to continue fire suppression actions. A combination of direct and indirect fire suppression actions will be implemented. Firefighters have established an anchor point on the northeast corner of the fire and crews will work to construct a direct fire line along the northeastern edge of the fire. Access from roads and trails provide firefighters with safe ingress and egress. On the south side of the fire there is a lot of thick forest and slash on the ground that does not allow safe locations for firefighters to work directly on the fire edge. On the south side of the fire an indirect suppression action is being planned, utilizing several of the prescribed fire lines that have been constructed while still looking for opportunities to build direct fire lines if possible. Aircraft are available for water drops as needed, one large helicopter has already been working to make water bucket drops this morning to cool pockets of heat on the fire edge.
Structure protection engines are in place again today and prepared to take actions if the fire moves towards private property structures along the Lindskog Road and North Arm Road. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management will continue to monitor the fire conditions and in coordination with the Incident Commander determine the needs for evacuation changes.
Safety: This remains an active wildfire and today's weather forecast includes another day of near-critical fire weather elements of hot temperatures and low relative humidity levels. Winds are forecasted to be 5-10 mph from the south. The public is asked to stay away from the North Arm Road area; give clearance to water scooping aircraft on Burntside Lake; and to NOT fly unmanned aerial systems (UAS) or drones anywhere near the fire area. This will allow the firefighting aircraft pilots to fly safely and the firefighters on the ground to work safely. If you fly, we can't! Thank you for your cooperation!
