A campfire ban for the BWCA Wilderness goes into effect June 6. Photo by Erik Dickes
Forest Service Enacts Campfire Ban in BWCA Wilderness Starting June 6
By Joe Friedrichs
Campfires in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness will temporarily be banned starting Saturday, June 6.
The campfire ban is currently scheduled to be in place until June 30.
Campfires will no longer be allowed at this time due to dry conditions across the wilderness and the risk for wildfires. The campfire ban goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.
The use of a camp stove solely fueled by liquid petroleum or propane is still allowed, even in the BWCA Wilderness. Stoves or grills fueled by charcoal, or any type of wood are not allowed.
Campfire will remain legal on the rest of Superior National Forest outside of the BWCA Wilderness.
There’s been an uptick in wildfire activity in and around the BWCA Wilderness in recent weeks, including a fire this week burning near Ely on the shores of Burntside Lake, and a fire on the North Shore near Two Harbors in late May.
This is the first campfire ban in the BWCA Wilderness this paddling season.
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