Thanks and Good Riddance

     According to definitions found on the web, the word riddance means, "The act of removing or getting rid of something."  On the Gunflint Trail we are currently in the process of "getting rid of" the Type II Team led by John Stegmeir.   It’s not that we don’t like him and his fine people, it’s just that we are ready to be done with fire fighting and that means getting rid of the firefighters.  

     There will still be fire fighters in the area as the Type III Team takes over today.  This is a local team from the Superior National Forest with Greg Vollhaber in charge, two supervisors, two helicopters, one EMT and a crew of 18.  They will keep a careful watch on the fires of the East Zone Complex and the fires will continue to be monitored from the air. There will be a final public meeting at the Poplar Lake Fire Hall on Saturday morning at 10 A.M.

     With the favorable weather conditions of the past few days more Boundary Water Entry Points and the Iron Lake Campground will be re-opened today.

• 50 – Cross Bay
• 81 – Border Route Trail – East
• 45 – Morgan Lake
• 47 – Lizz and Swamp Lake
• 48 – Meeds
• 49 – Skipper and Portage

     A big thank you goes out to everyone involved in fighting these fires.  We are fortunate to have a wonderful Volunteer Fire Department here and are grateful for their dedication.  We appreciate the fast acting local teams as well as the Type II Team.  Perhaps the biggest thank you should go out to Mother Nature, because without her cooperation, who knows what could have become.