Pagami fire cost tops $21 million

Officials said this week the costs of fighting the Pagami Creek fire in and near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness have reached $21.6 million, nearly $350,000 per day going back 62 days since the fire started

in August.

Lake County Administrator Matt Huddleston said that by the end of September, the county costs for the fire totaled just more than $102,000. He said he expects the final tally to be $150,000 to $200,000 as mileage, overtime, and expenses are totaled by the sheriff’s office and emergency management.

Firefighting officials said in an update Wednesday that the Pagami Creek fire is 91 percent contained, but strong winds in recent days have made it hard to pull crews and equipment back from the fire lines. Managers continue to release crews and equipment as containment increases.

There are 230 people assigned to the firefighting effort. The fire was detected Aug.18 and was caused by lightning. It has burned nearly 145 square miles but hasn’t grown much in the past month. The Forest Service has opened most of the access roads to the Superior National Forest outside the BWCAW.

A section of the BWCAW,including the Lady Chain and north to the Kekekabic Hiking Trail, was also opened. A small portion of the wilderness, including the Pow Wow Hiking Trail and forest Road 377 leading to Forest

Center, remain closed.

The Forest Service asks that visitors take care traveling in the areas as fire crews may still be working there.

Tags: two harbors, lake county, lake superior, community, news, environment, weather