Aerial view of a wildfire on the landscapeThe Horse River Fire was first detected on May 22, 2025, following a reconnaissance flight over a remote area of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), approximately 16 miles northeast of Ely, Minnesota. The fire was ignited by a lightning strike in a heavily forested, inaccessible area east of the Horse River. It is burning in mixed conifer and hardwood fuels, with minimal blowdown but dense vegetation and swampy terrain limiting ground access.
The fire is exhibiting low-intensity fire behavior characterized by smoldering, creeping, and occasional torching. The fire is currently over a mile from the nearest canoe travel route and has not threatened any structures or key infrastructure. Given the isolated nature of the location, suppression efforts have relied heavily on aerial observation and support.
Due to the complexity of managing a wildfire within the protected and rugged terrain of the BWCAW, the National Incident Management Organization (NIMO) team assumed command of the Horse River Fire on May 28, 2025. NIMO teams specialize in overseeing large-scale and high-complexity wildfire incidents, particularly those in sensitive wilderness areas. Their objectives include ensuring firefighter and public safety, minimizing resource impacts, and coordinating strategic suppression efforts using the least intrusive methods available.