Wildfire is ranked as one of the greatest threats for St. Louis County. The immediate danger from wildfires is the destruction of timber, property, wildlife, and injury or loss of life to persons who live in the affected area or who are using recreational facilities in the area.
Long-term effects from wildfires are numerous. Forest fires can leave large amounts of scorched and barren land, which may not return to its pre-fire condition for many years. Major fires can completely destroy ground cover, which can, in turn, cause erosion.
As a result of population growth in rural forested areas and the blow down in the Northeastern part of the County, the potential for losses of life and property due to wildfires are greater now than in the past. Information on current wildfire conditions and burning restrictions can be found at the Minnesota
DNR Wildfire Information Center.
History
Between January of 1993 and December of 2002 St. Louis County had 1,829 wild fires, burning 6,188 acres in total according to data from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The average fire suppression cost was $866. Some of the more significant fire events were the Elbow Lake Fire near Orr in May of 2003, the Sheep Ranch Fire in May of 1998 near Orr, and the Gannon Ck./Nett Lake Fire in August of 1991. Map 3.2 provides an overview of fire occurrence in the Superior National Forest, which includes parts of St. Louis County.
Plans and Programs
Minnesota DNR Forestry Division. This division has the primary responsibility in Minnesota for the protection of public lands from wild fires.
United States Forest Service (USFS). The USFS is responsible for fire protection in the areas within the Superior National Forest.
Prescribed burns and mechanical treatment in Blow Down Area. This is described in the USFS EIS that addresses the approach the USFS will take to reduce the fuel load caused by the July 1999 storm that resulted in a major blow down. In response to the massive 1999 blow down a plan was developed to reduce the fire risk in the blow down area through the use of prescribed burns and mechanical removal of fuel loads.
National Fire Plan The USDA Forest Service maintains the National Fire Plan that is updated annually for effective use of National Resources to combat wildfires in the United States.
Interagency coordination. St. Louis County has an Incident Command Center in Place that allows agencies to come in and respond to an emergency in St. Louis County. Further, the NE-Minnesota Integrated Response Plan was developed to address the inter-agency emergency response actions that may result from a wildfire in the 1999 blow down area of Northeaster Minnesota. Finally, the Minnesota Incident Command System (MNCIS) is Minnesota’s application of the National Interagency Incident Management System (NIIMS). MNICS allows state and federal agencies to share equipment resources, personnel and knowledge.
Grand Rapids Interagency Fire Center The purpose of the MIFC is to allow for an efficient flow of information between agencies and exchange of resources to fight wildfires. Partners include staff from the DNR, USFS and the Minnesota Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
Radio Warning System. The radio warning system capabilities, using the weather radio frequency has been expanded to include portions of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. This will allow for distribution of information to travelers in this area including information on evacuation routes in case of a major fire.
Wildfire Condition Monitoring. The MN DNR Division of Forestry collects weather data on a daily basis. This data is being input into an U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service computer, which uses the National Fire Danger Rating System to determine daily and forecasted fire danger indices. This information combined with fire weather forecasts from the National Weather Service (NWS) are used to develop short-range guidelines for scheduling detection, equipment standby, and personnel.
Burning Permits/restrictions through DNR Fire Warden. This system regulates the hours or whether residents and visitors can burn or have a campfire. The USFS sets its own burning restrictions within the BWCAW when fire danger is high.
Fire Wise Program. This is a national program targeted towards educating residents in wildfire risk areas on how to make their structures safer from wildfire. The Fire Wise program is funded through the USFS, and administered by the DNR. Funding is available for local fire departments to inspect properties and advise residents on what they can further reduce risks. The program further offers a rebate program of up to $400 to pay for making a property less vulnerable for wildfires.
Timber Management. Timber sales are being structured differently in some areas in order to reduce fire risks where there are a large number of structures at risk. An example would be the area along Highway 53 north of Virginia.
Subdivision standards County Subdivision standards regulate size of access roads. Adequate space for access roads is critical for emergency response vehicles to be able to respond to a property.