Northern Minnesota fire update: Greenwood Fire 14% contained, other smaller fires see ‘little growth’

The Greenwood, John Ek and Whelp fires are either contained or staying the same in size as of Saturday, according to the United States Forest Service (USFS).

The Greenwood Fire is 14% contained as of Saturday, remaining the same size at 25,991 acres, or just over 40 square miles. The John Ek and Whelp fires, located in the Boundary Waters Area Wilderness (BWCA), remain at 1,563 acres (nearly 2½ square miles) and 50 acres with no containment.

Crews and heavy fire equipment took advantage of cooler conditions on Thursday, with higher humidity and light rain assisting in improving firelines in the west and north parts of the Greenwood Fire. The other two fires have seen little growth in flames with the recent weather as well.

A total of 529 personnel are continuing to work on the Greenwood Fire Saturday. Their priority will be to patrol, hold the containment lines, mop-up and remove snags that could ignite or fall across the fireline. Firefighters will begin to be inserted into the John Ek Fire on Saturday to begin the process of suppressing the blaze. Firefighters will also work on constructing a line and stringing out hose lines on the Whelp Fire.

Saturday’s weather will feature wet conditions, further helping the progress in putting out these wildfires.