Wildfire Near Ely Prompts Campfire Reminder
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Labor Day weekend is a popular time for people to visit Minnesota's state parks, but there's an important reminder about watching campfires.
Firefighters are currently working to put out a 20-mile-wide wildfire north of Ely. It isn't known what sparked the fire, but no cabins or homes are at risk of burning.
Becca Manlove, of the Kawishiwi Ranger District, said crews are making progress fighting the fire. (Below is an image of the fire near Cummings Lake).
"Some of the locals thought the fire was closer to structures than it was," she said. "It's pretty far out there."
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The DNR says many places in central and northern Minnesota are extremely dry and that there are many dead trees and underbrush that could easily catch fire.
They suggest keeping campfires smaller than three feet high and three feet across.
