Campsites casualties of Pagami Creek Fire

[Lee Borgersen]

10/15/2011
 
Campsites casualties of Pagami Creek Fire; Total cost now over $20 million



While firefighters are still working to contain the 92,682 acre Pagami Creek Fire, the Forest Service has started looking at the impact on campsites and portages.

As of Thursday, the fire was 87% contained and now has a total cost of $20.1 million.

Kawishiwi District Ranger Mark Van Every spoke to Ely area outfitters Tuesday about what visitors can expect when touring the 10 percent of the BWCAW impacted by the fire.

"We're already starting to see wildlife come back into the fire area," said Van Every, showing pictures of a squirrel eating a pine cone while sitting on a burned log.

The heaviest fire damage exists between Lake Four and Insula Lake. Van Every discussed other areas impacted by the fire.

The portages between Lake One and Lake Two were not damaged as well as much of the south shores of Lakes Two and Three.

Van Every said on the portage between Lake Two and Lake Three, the east side burned very hot but "there are still some trees that made it through that."

On the south end of Lake Three, some of the islands were impacted but "really none of the campsites were impacted by the fire at all down on the south end and even the ones on the west shore are in pretty good shape."

Van Every said the campsites on the south end of Hudson Lake were heavily impacted, largely due to damage from the blowdown that fueled the fire.

"Some of the ones on the north end are still green," said Van Every. "I paddled through there yesterday and took a look at it and I was pleasantly surprised there wasn't as much impact to all of the sites on Hudson as I thought there might be."

On the south end of Insula Lake, there was "fairly heavy impact" but "still some campsites that came through okay."

On the southwest side of the fire, Van Every said there was more patchy burning around Quadga Lake.

Pictures of campsites impacted showed that while the site may not be as picturesque, the sites will be safe to use.

On Horseshoe Lake, the fire burned on the south end of the lake and "the sites on the north end still look pretty good."

He said the Hudson Lake to Insula portage was heavily impacted but "that portage has been opened up because our fire crews have been moving through there."

There were 114 campsites impacted by the fire, with 41 having light fire effects, 22 sites with moderate effects and 51 sites that had severe effects.

"That doesn't mean all 51 of those sites aren't going to be usable or be able to be opened. They're just going to take more work but there will be some we won't be able to open for a few years to give them a chance to re-vegetate," said Van Every.

Less than five percent of the over 2,100 campsites in the BWCAW received impact from the fire.

"There's still a lot of sites out there with no impacts that people will be able to use and enjoy." he said.

"Eighty percent of 91 of the sites have little or no effects and about 20 percent of the Lake One to Insula route received substantial fire effects," said Van Every.

While fire turned some areas black, Van Every said new vegetation is already appearing.

He said the Forest Service has looked at the recovery of areas burned in the Ham Lake and Cavity Lake fires where vegetation returned in one to five years.

"We already have green grass along the Hudson to Insula portage," said Van Every.

"And jackpine cones are releasing seeds. There are areas just covered in jackpine. We're going to have a nice new jackpine stand out there."

Van Every said the Forest Service has already started to work on rehabilitating some of the damaged campsites.

"We've been putting in new latrines on some of them, taking down the snags that would be a hazard to people camping or using the areas," he said.

All travel zones that have fire within them will be closed until next spring.

"So we can get winter and the snow and wind to take down as many of those snags as possible," he said.

Van Every said the Forest Service will ask for volunteer help to get campsites and portages open next spring.

"If people are interested, we'll take one person or five or how ever many you have that can help with that. We're going to be opening that to people in the community.

"We've had lots of contacts from Boundary Waters users about what they can do to help, it can be anything from helping on the ground to helping with logistics, driving people to entry points and picking them up. We hope you'll be willing to give us some help.

"I think it's a way we can show others that the Boundary Waters is still open for business and this community is pulling together to get this area reopened and available to everybody to use and enjoy in the future," said Van Every.

He also urged a unified effort to get the word out that there are still many places in the BWCAW not impacted and for those who want to see the impact of fire of the opportunity to do that as well.

"It's important for us to get the word out about what is there, what's not there and how they can use that area that may have been impacted by the fire."

Van Every said he would be working with the Ely Chamber of Commerce on that issue.

In responding to questions to the over 50 people in the audience, Van Every said the Forest Service would consider day use visitors not to take up overnight sights.

He said making adjustments to the number of permits available in certain areas, including Lake One, will not be done "any more than absolutely necessary."

However, since every campsite on the Lake One changes is often in use during the busy season so "we're going to have to look at that."

Van Every also said an independent analysis of how the fire was managed from the beginning will be starting in the next week or two.

Yesterday, the Forest Service lifted campfire restrictions on the Chippewa National Forest and Superior National Forest, including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Visitors can build, maintain, attend or use a fire, campfire, charcoal fire or wood-burning stove any time of day within the boundaries of the Chippewa National Forest and Superior National Forest.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources also lifted restrictions on open burning on Friday. Campfires will be allowed throughout the state and permits for open burning of debris will be issued once again.

The Minnesota Interagency Fire Center advises anyone conducting burning that in addition to following the open burning laws and regulations, they should keep their burn piles small, have a water supply nearby, and stay with the fire until it is completely out.

If fire escapes, the homeowner is responsible for damage and suppression costs.