May 10, 2007 Evening Update
Incident: Ham Lake Wildland Fire
Released: 5/10/2007
HAM LAKE FIRE
UPDATE
5:00 PM
Great Basin Incident Management Team 1
May 10, 2007
Current Status
For public safety reasons, a mandatory evacuation order was issued by Cook County Sheriff Mark Falk for the Gunflint Lake and Loon Lake areas. Highway 12 is now closed from Gunflint Volunteer Fire Department Building #1 to the end of Gunflint Trail.
The State of Minnesota is at Planning Level 4. Multiple fires are being reported around the state. Equipment and crews continue to arrive hourly on the Ham Lake Fire; five additional hand-crews are enroute.
The Ham Fire is being managed by Great Basin Type 1 National Incident Management Team (Broyles). An Incident Commander of a Type 1 Canadian fire management team has been added to the unified command, which includes Cook County, Minnesota government agencies, and the Canadian Province of Ontario.
Unseasonably warm weather and drought conditions have created extreme fire conditions in northern Minnesota. The fire is exhibiting extreme fire behavior. It has moved to the east and southwest into previously unburned areas. Part of the eastern flank is now approximately 5 miles across the Canadian border.
In preparation of an expected wind shift, a burnout operation was conducted by firefighters late yesterday afternoon west of Gunflint Lake and north of Magnetic Road. This burnout was critical in fire suppression operations. Containment lines are holding. There remains a major concern for long-range spotting in and amongst structures on the south side of both Gunflint and Loon lakes. There has been some spotting, but no additional structures have been reported lost. An estimated 200 residences and over 20 commercial operations remain threatened.
Estimated Acreage/ containment
Acreage is now estimated at 30,000 acres. The Fire perimeter has increased. Containment is still estimated at 5%. No estimated date on full containment.
Resources on the Fire/Costs
Crews: 12 Helicopters: 6 Engines: 22 Water tenders: 1 Dozers: 8 Available upon Demand: Medium Air Tankers 3 Heavy Air tankers - 2 Additional resources are enroute.
Costs to Date: $ 1,250,000.
Cooperators
Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department, Cook County, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, American Red Cross, Forest Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Weather Service, and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
Evacuations and Public Meetings
The winds are beginning to shift to the northwest. These strong northwest winds are now pushing the fire to the southeast, threatening containment lines and homes on the south shores of Gunflint and Loon lakes.
A mandatory evacuation order remains in effect for Forest Rd 1347 southwest of Magnetic Lake and Cook County roads 12 and 46 on the west side of Gunflint Lake. The area from Seagull Guard Station north to the end of the Gunflint Trail is still under a mandatory evacuation order.
The public informational meeting has been moved to a new location as of tomorrow. The meeting will be at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow at the Gunflint Fire Hall #1 (Poplar) east of Trail Center.
Closures and restrictions
The Gunflint Trail is closed at Cook County Road #46 until further notice.
For current information on closures for the Superior National Forest, including the BWCAW and Trails End Campground, visit the forest webpage at www.fs.fed.us/r9/superior.
Fire restrictions are in effect for Cook, Lake, and St. Louis counties north of County Rd. 16 as of 8:00 a.m., May 7, 2007. Under these restrictions the following are prohibited: recreational fires (except gas and propane fired camp stoves and grills), welding, acetylene torches, or other devices with open flames.
Incident plans for tomorrow
The priority for suppression resources is now further securing and holding containment lines, and continued structure protection in the Gunflint, Loon, and Seagull lakes areas. Aviation resources will continue to be utilized.
Fire weather
Red Flag warnings were issued for today. Temperatures are now in the high 70s, with relative humidity around 30 percent. Winds are approximately 16, gusting to 26 mph. These are extreme fire behavior conditions. Strong winds are causing the fire to burn actively with torching and crown fire runs. Fire spread to the south is a concern for fire suppression forces. Winds are expected to subside overnight to around 10 mph as the front moves across the Great Lakes region, shifting further to the east by tomorrow.
Fire and Other Information
A Joint Information Center (JIC) is open in Grand Marais, MN at the Court House in Commissioner's Office and the phone number is 218-387-3401. The Cook County Sheriff has established a homeowner hot line for landowners in the evacuated area. The number is 218-387-3093.
The Ham Lake Fire Information Center at 218-260-4128. Media should stop at the Gunflint Volunteer Fire Department building south of Trail Center for scheduling media tours.
Fire Websites: http://www.inciweb.org/ is the primary location for information on the Ham Lake Fire. Additional fire information can be found at mnics.org.
HAM LAKE FIRE
UPDATE
5:00 PM
Great Basin Incident Management Team 1
May 10, 2007
Current Status
For public safety reasons, a mandatory evacuation order was issued by Cook County Sheriff Mark Falk for the Gunflint Lake and Loon Lake areas. Highway 12 is now closed from Cook County 92 East to the end of Gunflint Trail.
The State of Minnesota is at Planning Level 4. Multiple fires are being reported around the state. Equipment and crews continue to arrive hourly on the Ham Lake Fire; five additional hand-crews are enroute.
The Ham Fire is being managed by Great Basin Type 1 National Incident Management Team (Broyles). An Incident Commander of a Type 1 Canadian fire management team has been added to the unified command, which includes Cook County, Minnesota government agencies, and the Canadian Province of Ontario.
Unseasonably warm weather and drought conditions have created extreme fire conditions in northern Minnesota. The fire is exhibiting extreme fire behavior. It has moved to the east and southwest into previously unburned areas. Part of the eastern flank is now approximately 5 miles across the Canadian border.
In preparation of an expected wind shift, a burnout operation was conducted by firefighters late yesterday afternoon west of Gunflint Lake and north of Magnetic Road. This burnout was critical in fire suppression operations. Containment lines are holding. There remains a major concern for long-range spotting in and amongst structures on the south side of both Gunflint and Loon lakes. There has been some spotting, but no additional structures have been reported lost. An estimated 200 residences and over 20 commercial operations remain threatened.
Estimated Acreage/ containment
Acreage is now estimated at 30,000 acres. The Fire perimeter has increased. Containment is still estimated at 5%. No estimated date on full containment.
Resources on the Fire/Costs
Crews: 12 Helicopters: 6 Engines: 22 Water tenders: 1 Dozers: 8 Available upon Demand: Medium Air Tankers 3 Heavy Air tankers - 2 Additional resources are enroute.
Costs to Date: $ 1,250,000.
Cooperators
Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department, Cook County, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, American Red Cross, Forest Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Weather Service, and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
Evacuations and Public Meetings
The winds are beginning to shift to the northwest. These strong northwest winds are now pushing the fire to the southeast, threatening containment lines and homes on the south shores of Gunflint and Loon lakes.
A mandatory evacuation order remains in effect for Forest Rd 1347 southwest of Magnetic Lake and Cook County roads 12 and 46 on the west side of Gunflint Lake. The area from Seagull Guard Station north to the end of the Gunflint Trail is still under a mandatory evacuation order.
The public informational meeting has been moved to a new location as of tomorrow. The meeting will be at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow at the Gunflint Fire Hall #1 (Poplar) east of Trail Center.
Closures and restrictions
The Gunflint Trail is closed at Cook County Road #46 until further notice.
For current information on closures for the Superior National Forest, including the BWCAW and Trails End Campground, visit the forest webpage at www.fs.fed.us/r9/superior.
Fire restrictions are in effect for Cook, Lake, and St. Louis counties north of County Rd. 16 as of 8:00 a.m., May 7, 2007. Under these restrictions the following are prohibited: recreational fires (except gas and propane fired camp stoves and grills), welding, acetylene torches, or other devices with open flames.
Incident plans for tomorrow
The priority for suppression resources is now further securing and holding containment lines, and continued structure protection in the Gunflint, Loon, and Seagull lakes areas. Aviation resources will continue to be utilized.
Fire weather
Red Flag warnings were issued for today. Temperatures are now in the high 70s, with relative humidity around 30 percent. Winds are approximately 16, gusting to 26 mph. These are extreme fire behavior conditions. Strong winds are causing the fire to burn actively with torching and crown fire runs. Fire spread to the south is a concern for fire suppression forces. Winds are expected to subside overnight to around 10 mph as the front moves across the Great Lakes region, shifting further to the east by tomorrow.
Fire and Other Information
A Joint Information Center (JIC) is open in Grand Marais, MN at the Court House in Commissioner's Office and the phone number is 218-387-3401. The Cook County Sheriff has established a homeowner hot line for landowners in the evacuated area. The number is 218-387-3093.
The Ham Lake Fire Information Center at 218-260-4128. Media should stop at the Gunflint Volunteer Fire Department building south of Trail Center for scheduling media tours.
Fire Websites: http://www.inciweb.org/ is the primary location for information on the Ham Lake Fire. Additional fire information can be found at mnics.org.
HAM LAKE FIRE
UPDATE
5:00 PM
Great Basin Incident Management Team 1
May 10, 2007
Current Status
For public safety reasons, a mandatory evacuation order was issued by Cook County Sheriff Mark Falk for the Gunflint Lake and Loon Lake areas. Highway 12 is now closed from Gunflint Volunteer Fire Department Building #1 to the end of Gunflint Trail.
The State of Minnesota is at Planning Level 4. Multiple fires are being reported around the state. Equipment and crews continue to arrive hourly on the Ham Lake Fire; five additional hand-crews are enroute.
The Ham Fire is being managed by Great Basin Type 1 National Incident Management Team (Broyles). An Incident Commander of a Type 1 Canadian fire management team has been added to the unified command, which includes Cook County, Minnesota government agencies, and the Canadian Province of Ontario.
Unseasonably warm weather and drought conditions have created extreme fire conditions in northern Minnesota. The fire is exhibiting extreme fire behavior. It has moved to the east and southwest into previously unburned areas. Part of the eastern flank is now approximately 5 miles across the Canadian border.
In preparation of an expected wind shift, a burnout operation was conducted by firefighters late yesterday afternoon west of Gunflint Lake and north of Magnetic Road. This burnout was critical in fire suppression operations. Containment lines are holding. There remains a major concern for long-range spotting in and amongst structures on the south side of both Gunflint and Loon lakes. There has been some spotting, but no additional structures have been reported lost. An estimated 200 residences and over 20 commercial operations remain threatened.
Estimated Acreage/ containment
Acreage is now estimated at 30,000 acres. The Fire perimeter has increased. Containment is still estimated at 5%. No estimated date on full containment.
Resources on the Fire/Costs
Crews: 12 Helicopters: 6 Engines: 22 Water tenders: 1 Dozers: 8 Available upon Demand: Medium Air Tankers 3 Heavy Air tankers - 2 Additional resources are enroute.
Costs to Date: $ 1,250,000.
Cooperators
Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department, Cook County, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, American Red Cross, Forest Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Weather Service, and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
Evacuations and Public Meetings
The winds are beginning to shift to the northwest. These strong northwest winds are now pushing the fire to the southeast, threatening containment lines and homes on the south shores of Gunflint and Loon lakes.
A mandatory evacuation order remains in effect for Forest Rd 1347 southwest of Magnetic Lake and Cook County roads 12 and 46 on the west side of Gunflint Lake. The area from Seagull Guard Station north to the end of the Gunflint Trail is still under a mandatory evacuation order.
The public informational meeting has been moved to a new location as of tomorrow. The meeting will be at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow at the Gunflint Fire Hall #1 (Poplar) east of Trail Center.
Closures and restrictions
The Gunflint Trail is closed at Cook County Road #46 until further notice.
For current information on closures for the Superior National Forest, including the BWCAW and Trails End Campground, visit the forest webpage at www.fs.fed.us/r9/superior.
Fire restrictions are in effect for Cook, Lake, and St. Louis counties north of County Rd. 16 as of 8:00 a.m., May 7, 2007. Under these restrictions the following are prohibited: recreational fires (except gas and propane fired camp stoves and grills), welding, acetylene torches, or other devices with open flames.
Incident plans for tomorrow
The priority for suppression resources is now further securing and holding containment lines, and continued structure protection in the Gunflint, Loon, and Seagull lakes areas. Aviation resources will continue to be utilized.
Fire weather
Red Flag warnings were issued for today. Temperatures are now in the high 70s, with relative humidity around 30 percent. Winds are approximately 16, gusting to 26 mph. These are extreme fire behavior conditions. Strong winds are causing the fire to burn actively with torching and crown fire runs. Fire spread to the south is a concern for fire suppression forces. Winds are expected to subside overnight to around 10 mph as the front moves across the Great Lakes region, shifting further to the east by tomorrow.
Fire and Other Information
A Joint Information Center (JIC) is open in Grand Marais, MN at the Court House in Commissioner's Office and the phone number is 218-387-3401. The Cook County Sheriff has established a homeowner hot line for landowners in the evacuated area. The number is 218-387-3093.
The Ham Lake Fire Information Center at 218-260-4128. Media should stop at the Gunflint Volunteer Fire Department building south of Trail Center for scheduling media tours.
Fire Websites: http://www.inciweb.org/ is the primary location for information on the Ham Lake Fire. Additional fire information can be found at mnics.org.
