(KNSI) – Lightning is believed to be the cause of a fire burning in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota.
The Behzik fire in the Trout Lake unit north of Tower was reported on Monday as being roughly ten acres in size, but as of Tuesday night, was believed to have scorched over 1,600 acres. That has now been downgraded to 950 acres. Officials with the U.S. Forest Service is “very active” and heavy smoke made it difficult to get an accurate size. They say it is away from any roads or travel areas.
According to the Forest Service, the fire is in a difficult location to get at from the ground, and “The safety of firefighters and the public are the highest priority and therefore we need to evaluate where and how to put firefighters on the ground when it is safe to do so.” Airplanes are being used to drop water on the fire.
Hotshot Crews are in the area to help fight the fire, which is zero percent contained.
Note: The fire was downgraded in scope and size. This story has been updated to reflect that.
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