Pagami Creek Fire
Now officially the largest fire in Minnesota since 1918, The Pagami Creek fire started innocently enough on August 18th because of a lightning strike. Estimates at the end of today put the fires at approximately 100,000 acres. Find daily updates at http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2534
UPDATE: I've been into the fire zones twice with the USFS, once near the Tomahawk Trail and Lake Isabella, and once down the Lake One Chain, near where the fire started two months ago. While there are areas of intense burn, as with most forest fires, this fire advance left a mosaic pattern of little touched and non touch throughout the area. One island would be burned completely, the next one only a few hundred yards away would be untouched. Shorelines look like a checkerboard with areas of burn and green alternating. Campsites along the south side of the One Chain, through Hudson and the southern end of Insula were hit hard. Yet most are not only usable, but will retain much of the beauty they've had to offer. Estimates at the present time are that less than 10 won't be re-opened for next season - and those mostly for potential erosion problems.
Read MoreUPDATE: I've been into the fire zones twice with the USFS, once near the Tomahawk Trail and Lake Isabella, and once down the Lake One Chain, near where the fire started two months ago. While there are areas of intense burn, as with most forest fires, this fire advance left a mosaic pattern of little touched and non touch throughout the area. One island would be burned completely, the next one only a few hundred yards away would be untouched. Shorelines look like a checkerboard with areas of burn and green alternating. Campsites along the south side of the One Chain, through Hudson and the southern end of Insula were hit hard. Yet most are not only usable, but will retain much of the beauty they've had to offer. Estimates at the present time are that less than 10 won't be re-opened for next season - and those mostly for potential erosion problems.