Thousands of visitors were ordered to evacuate a remote Minnesota wilderness area accessible only by boat as heavy wildfire smoke settled over the U.S. Midwest and Northeast this week. More than 100 wildfires burning in Canada are sending smoke southeast, creating warnings about unhealthy air conditions that have stretched from Minnesota through Toronto and into New York.
In far northeastern Minnesota, rangers worked to evacuate visitors from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which was closed due to about 17 fires caused by lightning that were spreading through the vast wilderness. Superior National Forest spokesperson Joy VanDrie estimated that between 6,000 and 10,000 people were in the 1.1-million-acre area, which is primarily accessible by canoe. VanDrie described the evacuation as an arduous job, with rangers and campers needing to canoe for hours or carry boats over land.
No injuries or deaths have been reported. Officials estimated that about 90% of the people had been evacuated by Wednesday. Campers who were rescued described skies rapidly darkening with smoke and feeling the heat as they paddled or were taken by boat to safety. Jan Bailey recounted being on the water with her family and dogs when they saw smoke on the horizon, which quickly escalated to a firestorm. They were eventually rescued by rangers who were sent after a paddleboarder with a satellite phone reached their campsite.
Canadian authorities assisted in the evacuation, rescuing two groups of youth campers who had crossed the border, with one group found stranded on an isolated sandbar. Minnesota officials indicated that some fires within the Boundary Waters will be allowed to burn indefinitely under monitoring to ensure they do not threaten people or property. It remains uncertain when the area might reopen.
Experts attribute the severe wildfire season to a combination of drought and high temperatures in Canada and the U.S., creating conditions ripe for fires. Dan Westervelt, an associate professor at Columbia University's Climate School, noted that warming temperatures are contributing to more frequent and intense fires. High levels of fine particulate matter from the smoke can be unhealthy for sensitive groups, potentially causing respiratory issues and aggravating existing heart and lung conditions. Experts recommend wearing N95 masks when outdoors and improving indoor air quality by closing windows and using air purifiers or air conditioners.
The U.S. is experiencing a particularly active fire season, with approximately four dozen large fires burning across 15 states, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Prolonged drought and low snowpack levels have contributed to rapid fire growth.
In Minnesota, officials warned that some large fires could persist for months, potentially lasting until snow arrives. The smoke has been so dense that skies have turned orange in northern Minnesota. In areas where air conditioning is not common, residents typically open windows for relief, but the thick smoke has made this impossible. Residents have reported strong campfire smells, eye irritation, and difficulty breathing, with visibility reduced to near zero in some locations.
Officials in Michigan and Wisconsin have issued warnings about air quality that could last for days, and the smoke has reached as far as Maine, tinting the sky yellow and brown. The smoke is expected to spread further south, potentially reaching Washington, D.C., by midday Thursday.