News
Boundary Waters wildfires bring grief over forest loss, but hope for long-term renewal
For the canoeists and campers who share a deep affinity for the rocky, pine-studded forests and lakes of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, there is a sense of shared grief over the massive wildfires that continue to burn across the region.
But while fire is destructive in the short-term, in the long-term it's regenerative. Wildfire breathes new life into the boreal forests of northern Minnesota.
Story and photos by MPRNews
What's fueling northeastern Minnesota's Wildfires?
A conversation with University of Minnesota forest ecologist Lee Frelich about what's behind the fires burning in and near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, why they're so difficult to contain, and what we can do to reduce wildfire risk.
Story and photos by MPRNews
New research initiatives explore the future of Minnesota's wilderness
The Quetico-Superior border region is more than just a crown jewel of Minnesota’s landscape. It is a living laboratory. Through the Hubachek Wilderness Research Center, the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) has awarded funding to four innovative research projects.
Fall 2026
UPDATE: Monday, October 5: After September rains, wildfire status in the Ely area is stable. For current Lake County evacuation information, see the Lake County Fire Safety and Evacuation page. Parts of the BWCAW are still closed. For current BWCAW information, see the Superior National Forest's Alerts and Fire Danger Status page. The Superior National Forest also posts news on its Facebook page.
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After an active wildfire season this summer, with HWRC in various levels of evacuation for half of July and August, we are enjoying a relatively uneventful and very pleasant autumn. If conditions get drier, wildfire may again become a concern. The end of this fire season can't be confidently predicted until enough snow falls to soak into the duff and put underground fires completely out. After additional firewise treatments around the HWRC grounds, and work on the exterior sprinkler systems, we are in even better shape to survive a wildfire.
See our News items on this page for links to two informative news pieces from Minnesota Public Radio regarding the July Lightning Fire Complex and broader forest and wildfire topics. Our director, Kyle Gill, appears briefly in the interviews in the July 23 update.
For more abut HWRC and our affiliated Research and Outreach Center, the Cloquet Forestry Center, follow the link to the View From the Woods 2025 on this page.