HAM LAKE FIRE

 

UPDATE

 

  

Great Basin Incident Management Team 1

 

May 11, 2007, 7:00 PM

 

Current Status

Power has been restored to the Incident Command Post and fire camp at Seagull Guard Station.  The fire is bumping up to the Rush Lake on the south. Heavy smoke at the east end of Loon Lake and limited access is hampering structural protection efforts.   Today, fire suppression forces focused on structural protection for homes and businesses on Gunflint, Loon, and Poplar lakes, and along the Gunflint Trail.

Cook County has completed their initial assessment of structures lost.  In the first few days, 134 structures were lost with an estimated value of $3.7 million.  

The Canadian Incident Management Team is taking action on the portion of the fire in Canada; American aerial resources are being utilized in the unified effort. 

For public safety reasons, a mandatory evacuation order was issued by Cook County Sheriff Mark Falk for the Gunflint Lake and Loon Lake areas early yesterday afternoon.  Highway 12 is closed from Poplar Lake Fire Hall (Gunflint #1) to the end of Gunflint Trail. 

There was little growth on the north, west, or southwest flanks of the fire.   No structures have been reported lost for yesterday; however, an assessment continues by emergency personnel. An estimated 200 residences and over 20 commercial operations remain threatened. 

The State of Minnesota is currently at Planning Level 4.  Multiple fires are being reported around the state.  Equipment and crews continue to arrive on the Ham Lake Fire.  Unseasonably warm weather and drought conditions have created extreme fire conditions in northern Minnesota. 

Estimated Acreage/ containment

Acres burned in both the United States and Canada: Estimated at 52,371 acres.  Revised acreage is based on an Infrared flight early this morning.  Containment is still estimated at 5%.  There is no estimated date on full containment.     

Resources on the Fire/Costs

Crews: 16  Helicopters: 8  Engines: 41  Water tenders: 3  Dozers: 7  Available upon Demand: Medium Air Tankers 3  Heavy Air tankers - 2   Personnel: 657.  Additional resources continue to arrive.

Costs to Date: $ 3,192,522 as of 1700 hours May 11.  Includes costs from previous operational periods that were not entered until today. 

Cooperators

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.

Cooperators include 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

A mandatory evacuation order remains in effect for the area north and west of the Poplar Lake volunteer fire station (Gunflint #1).  The area along the Gunflint Trail between Gunflint #1 (7401 Gunflint Trail) and Swamper Lake is under a cautionary evacuation order.  This cautionary evacuation order applies to all roadways off the Gunflint Trail.    

Due to the mandatory evacuation order, no further information meetings will be held at Gunflint Fire Hall #1.  A public informational meeting will be held this evening at 7:00 p.m. in Grand Marais, MN at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts.      

Closures and restrictions

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. 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

Fire spread to the west and east toward residences and resorts is a major concern for fire suppression forces. Winds will switch to the southeast pushing the finger of fire south of Gunflint Lake toward the urban interface along Loon Lake and the south side of Gunflint Lake.  The priority for suppression resources will be further securing and holding containment lines, and continued structure protection in the Gunflint, Loon, and Poplar lakes areas, and along the west end of Gunflint Trail.  Aviation resources will continue to be utilized.  

Fire weather

Temperatures tomorrow will be in the 60s, with relative humidity around 30 percent.  Winds are predicted at 5-10 mph out of the southeast.

Fire and Other Information

A Joint Information Center (JIC) is open in Grand Marais, MN at the Court House in the Commissioner's Office (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 is now back in operation; the number is 218-460-4128.   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.