Northern MN is burning...

[Rosie]

This morning on the news, there were stories about fires in LA and Florida.

There is a huge fire burning in Northern Minnesota which is bigger than both those fires combined.

Firefighters Using Fire-Balls To Battle BWCA Blaze

It's been burning almost an entire week now and with the weather conditions (hot and dry), it's a mess.

 

[slappy4428]

Who cares? It's flyover country! [/sp...ahh, you know by now]

 

[Rosie]

A more in-depth story

Fighting fire with fire

From the story:

The Ham Lake fire, which started Saturday morning as an unattended campfire, has burned more than 22,000 acres, fire officials said Wednesday. Cook County Sheriff Mark Falk said it has burned at least 45 major structures, most of them cabins and homes, all at the end of the Gunflint Trail on Seagull and Saganaga lakes. That number could climb.

The Ham Lake fire is believed to be the most costly Minnesota wildfire in terms of property damage since 1918.

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

No, not Hamm's Lake!

Seriously, that's one of my favorite parts of the world. It's a shame.

 

[alleyallen]

Never been in that part of the country, but here's to the hopes they get it under control soon, Rosie. Hope you and the family are safe.

 

[Rosie]

Thanks, Alley. We're good, but under a red flag warning. (Most all Northern MN is.)

 

[Football_Bat]

Cook County? You gave me an 1871 flashback. [/spnited]

 

[Idaho]

As a dude who has spent several months in Northern Minnesota, this is sad. But, if there's a silver lining, it's in an area that grows trees fast.

It will rebound relatively quickly compared to places like Yellowstone or SoCal.

 

[spnited]

Who cares? It's flyover country! [/sp...ahh, you know by now]

I would never say that to my friend Rosie.

Hope you and the family remain safe, Rosie.

 

[Bubbler]

It's beautiful there. It really is. But the potential for the fire to spread is enormous given how huge the northern Minnesota forest is.

I hope it rains real soon.

 

[HeinekenMan]

And so we have our answer to an age-old question.

If a tree burns in Minnesota and the media doesn't see it, it doesn't make a sound. This, of course, is the bastardized version of this:

If a bear ****s in the woods and nobody is there to smell it, does it stink?

Good luck with your fire. My kids haven't be able to play outdoors for the past several days. My wife left the front door open for 10 seconds on Tuesday, and the house filled with smoke. But I think we Floridians are about out of the woods now, no pun intended.

 

[Rosie]

Sounds like it's getting worse.

Fire Prompts Evacuation Of Gunflint Lodge Area

Gunflint fire jumps line

It's windy and still too dry here today.

Spnited, thanks. We're fine, but the water-bomber flying over the house this morning startled the bejeebers out of me. Sounded like it was going to fly right into the house. Don't know if it was practice or going to the fire.

HeinekenMan, I hope your fire down there is under control and contained. Kids stuck in the house is not fun. ;)

 

[Jack_Kerouac]

This morning on the news, there were stories about fires in LA and Florida.

There is a huge fire burning in Northern Minnesota which is bigger than both those fires combined.

Firefighters Using Fire-Balls To Battle BWCA Blaze

It's been burning almost an entire week now and with the weather conditions (hot and dry), it's a mess.

Rosie, our thoughts and prayers are with your homestaters. But I think the other fires are garnering more attention because they are in areas with actual people, instead of just moose. :-)

 

[dog428]

Damn, how would you like to be the people who set the campfire that turned into this?

 

[Rosie]

If the fire was in a BWCA camp site, they may or may not be able to trace them. To travel into the Boundary Waters, you have to have a permit, but that's only for part of the year. Mr. Rosie would know when the permitting starts, but he's not here for me to ask. And I honestly don't remember if you just specify your entry point or if you have to list your campsite(s) as well.

J-K, if this fire keeps spreading, it will affect more people than the others. Believe it or not, we co-exist quite nicely with the moose. ;) (Except when you hit one with your vehicle. That's not so good.)

 

[Armchair_QB]

Has the fire spread across the border yet?

 

[Rosie]

Yes, either yesterday or Tuesday. I don't remember which.

 

[buckweaver]

Damn, how would you like to be the people who set the campfire that turned into this?

Better than being <a href="http://www.sbsun.com/ci_5859905">the guy who started</a> the Esperanza fire last summer.