ELY, Minn. - Fire crews are battling a blaze that has consumed an estimated 20 acres in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) Wilderness near Ely Monday.
The Duluth News Tribune reports that a crew of 10 is battling the Cummings Lake fire. Superior National Forest information officer Becca Manlove tells the Tribune it is consuming black spruce in a lowland area about 12 miles northwest of Ely.
No structures are immediately threatened by the flames.
More ground personnel and helicopters are deploying to the scene. A number of CL-215 water bombers are on standby if the wildfire spreads.
The fire was reported on Sunday afternoon. Wilderness officials have announced no closures in the BWCA at this time, although camping on Otter Lake is not recommended.
Anyone using a campfire or camp stove is asked to use caution. Fire danger remains high across the northland after an extended stretch of hot, dry weather.
Last year's Pagami Creek wildfire burned about 145 square miles inside and outside the BWCA. The area has more than 2,100 campsites scattered across 1,700 square miles of wilderness.
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