Horse River Fire 2025

Started: May 23 13 acre 100% contained Wildfire
Near Ely · Lake County, Minnesota
InciWeb

Horse River Fire has burned 13 acres, burning 15 miles northeast of Ely.

Latest update

The 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.

39 Days Active
15 mi NE From Ely to the fire perimeter
13 Acres 10 football fields
100%
Contained +0% since previous report
26 Personnel $367K spent $28.2K/acre

Horse River Fire Live Perimeter Growth

Horse River Fire Fire Growth History
Horse River Fire Containment History

Fires near Horse River Fire

🔥 July 2026 Superior NF Wildfires Active 2026
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Near Ely · Lake County, Minnesota
🔥 Chapinwood Fire Active 2026
Started: Aug 19 1 acre
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🔥 Salo Rd Fire Active 2026
Started: Aug 15 0 acre
Near Ashland · Ashland County, Wisconsin
🔥 Sioux Fire Active 2026
Started: Jul 9 6,833 acre 79% contained
Near Ely · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 River Fire 2026
Started: Jul 28 0 acre
Near Hayward · Bayfield County, Wisconsin
🔥 493 Fire 2026
Started: Jul 20 0 acre
Near Cook · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Long Lake Fire 2026
Started: Jul 20 15 acre
Near Cook · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Little Knife Fire Active 2026
Started: Jul 15 4,815 acre 90% contained
🔥 Rabbit 2 Fire 2026
Started: Jul 10 3 acre
Near Ranier · Koochiching County, Minnesota
🔥 Chub Fire 2026
Started: Jul 9 409 acre 85% contained
Near Cook · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Creek Fire 2026
Started: Jul 9 3 acre
Near Cook · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Nine Fire 2026
Started: Jul 9 5 acre
Near Cook · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Wolfpack Fire 2026
Started: Jul 9 6,871 acre 100% contained
Near Ely · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 614 Fire 2026
Started: Jul 9 11 acre
Near Cook · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Marion Creek Trail Fire 2026
Started: Jul 9 0 acre
Near Cook · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Fools Gold Fire 2026
Started: Jul 9 1 acre 0% contained
Near Cook · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Echo 2 Fire 2026
Started: Jul 9 1 acre 100% contained
Near Cook · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Ridge Fire 2026
Started: Jul 8 6 acre
Near Cook · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Beaver Tail Fire 2026
Started: Jul 8 12 acre
Near Cook · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Newton Fire 2026
Started: Jul 8 1 acre 0% contained
Near Ely · Lake County, Minnesota
🔥 Section 3 Pond Fire 2026
Started: Jul 8 1 acre 0% contained
Near Ely · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Thumb Fire 2026
Started: Jul 8 1 acre 0% contained
Near Ely · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Bear Trap Fire 2026
Started: Jul 8 1 acre 0% contained
Near Ely · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Camp Fire 2026
Started: Jul 8 2 acre 0% contained
Near Ely · Lake County, Minnesota
🔥 224 Airport Pit Fire 2026
Started: Jul 4 1 acre
Near Grand Marais · Cook County, Minnesota
🔥 Long 2 Fire 2026
Started: Jul 3 3 acre 80% contained
Near Grand Marais · Cook County, Minnesota
🔥 Slim Fire 2026
Started: Jun 28 3 acre
Near Ely · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Big Fire 2026
Started: Jun 23 0 acre
Near Ely · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Buck Fire 2026
Started: Jun 7 0 acre 0% contained
Near Ely · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Tiger Fire 2026
Started: Jun 6 1 acre 100% contained
Near Ely · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Loon Fire 2026
Started: Jun 6 16 acre 100% contained
Near Ely · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Birch Bay Fire 2026
Started: Jun 1 35 acre
Near Ely · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Eskelson Fire 2026
Started: May 30 0 acre
Near Superior Village · Douglas County, Wisconsin
🔥 Dedham Fire 2026
Started: May 28 4 acre
Near Superior Village · Douglas County, Wisconsin
🔥 Twin Lakes Fire 2026
Started: May 27 1 acre
Near Marble · Itasca County, Minnesota
🔥 Sleepy Eye Fire 2026
Started: May 21 0 acre
Near Minong · Washburn County, Wisconsin
🔥 Pettit Road Fire 2026
Started: May 20 4 acre
Near Gilbert · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Barnes Rd Fire 2026
Started: May 17 4 acre
Near Iron River · Bayfield County, Wisconsin
🔥 Townline Fire 2026
Started: May 17 0 acre
Near Solon Springs · Douglas County, Wisconsin
🔥 Tri Lakes Fire 2026
Started: May 16 0 acre
Near Little Round Lake · Bayfield County, Wisconsin
🔥 Biwabik Fire 2026
Started: May 16 4 acre
Near Biwabik · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Karth Road Fire 2026
Started: May 15 40 acre
Near Cook · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Stewart Trail 2026
Started: May 15 356 acre 100% contained
Near Two Harbors · Lake County, Minnesota
🔥 Bear Fire 2026
Started: May 15 3 acre
Near Babbitt · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Big Balsam Fire 2026
Started: May 15 15 acre
Near Taconite · Itasca County, Minnesota
🔥 Wentworth Fire 2026
Started: May 15 1 acre
Near Poplar · Douglas County, Wisconsin
🔥 Hwy 135 Fire 2026
Started: May 15 31 acre
Near Gilbert · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Nett Lake Road Fire 2026
Started: May 14 10 acre
Near Cook · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Sand Lake Fire 2026
Started: May 14 0 acre
Near Keewatin · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Nw Sands Block C Rx Fire 2026
Started: May 10 260 acre
Near Iron River · Bayfield County, Wisconsin
🔥 Becks Rd Fire 2026
Started: May 8 1 acre
Near Poplar · Douglas County, Wisconsin
🔥 Jacksino Fire 2026
Started: May 4 1 acre
Near Poplar · Douglas County, Wisconsin
🔥 Daniel Rd Fire 2026
Started: May 3 0 acre
Near Virginia · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Axe Head Red Rx Fire 2026
Started: May 1 95 acre
Near Iron River · Bayfield County, Wisconsin
🔥 Church Corner Fire 2026
Started: Apr 20 0 acre
Near Washburn · Bayfield County, Wisconsin
🔥 Johnson Fire 2026
Started: Apr 19 1 acre
Near Ashland · Ashland County, Wisconsin
🔥 Nightside Fire 2026
Started: Mar 26 0 acre
Near Minong · Douglas County, Wisconsin
🔥 Mount Baldy Fire 2025
Started: Nov 18 2 acre
Near Silver Bay · Lake County, Minnesota
🔥 Cornwall Fire 2025
Started: Nov 9 1 acre
Near Minong · Washburn County, Wisconsin
🔥 Rash Rd Fire 2025
Started: Nov 7 120 acre 75% contained
Near Webster, Wisconsin · Pine County, Minnesota
🔥 Summer Rd Fire 2025
Started: Oct 20 0 acre
Near Lake Nebagamon · Douglas County, Wisconsin
🔥 Nelson Fire 2025
Started: Oct 18 0 acre
Near Ashland · Bayfield County, Wisconsin
🔥 Elephant Lake Fire 2025
Started: Oct 9 22 acre
Near Cook · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Crosby Fire 2025
Started: Oct 9 300 acre 100% contained
Near Silver Bay · Lake County, Minnesota
🔥 Hoo Doo Fire 2025
Started: Oct 5 0 acre
Near Cook · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Moon Fire 2025
Started: Oct 3 4 acre
Near Marble · Itasca County, Minnesota
🔥 Stump Bay Fire 2025
Started: Aug 7 0 acre
Near Minong · Douglas County, Wisconsin
🔥 Hay Day Fire 2025
Started: Jul 28 0 acre
Near Ashland · Bayfield County, Wisconsin
🔥 Munger Shaw Fire 2025
Started: May 13 1,259 acre 100% contained
Near Arnold · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Jenkins Creek Fire 2025
Started: May 13 16,490 acre 100% contained
Near Hoyt Lakes · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Camp House Fire 2025
Started: May 12 12,071 acre 100% contained
Near Two Harbors · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Dreamy Fire 2025
Started: May 9 0 acre
Near International Falls · Koochiching County, Minnesota
🔥 Shell Lake Fire 2024
Started: Oct 9
Near Ely · St. Louis County, Minnesota
🔥 Bogus Lake Fire 2024
Started: Oct 9 53 acre 100% contained
Near Grand Marais · Cook County, Minnesota
🔥 Wood Lake Fire 2024
Started: Sep 11 45 acre 50% contained
Near Ely · Lake County, Minnesota
🔥 Fry Fire 2024
Started: May 15 186 acre 100% contained
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Places Near Horse River Fire

Ely, Minnesota, United States Babbitt, Minnesota, United States Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota, United States Aurora, Minnesota, United States Biwabik, Minnesota, United States Silver Bay, Minnesota, United States Gilbert, Minnesota, United States Virginia, Minnesota, United States Cook, Minnesota, United States Parkville, Minnesota, United States Eveleth, Minnesota, United States Two Harbors, Minnesota, United States Mountain Iron, Minnesota, United States Buhl, Minnesota, United States Arnold, Minnesota, United States Chisholm, Minnesota, United States Duluth, Minnesota, United States Hermantown, Minnesota, United States Hibbing, Minnesota, United States Grand Marais, Minnesota, United States Superior, Wisconsin, United States Proctor, Minnesota, United States Superior Village, Wisconsin, United States Poplar, Wisconsin, United States Keewatin, Minnesota, United States Esko, Minnesota, United States Iron River, Wisconsin, United States Scanlon, Minnesota, United States Cloquet, Minnesota, United States Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin, United States Carlton, Minnesota, United States Nashwauk, Minnesota, United States Washburn, Wisconsin, United States Floodwood, Minnesota, United States Ashland, Wisconsin, United States Ranier, Minnesota, United States Solon Springs, Wisconsin, United States Marble, Minnesota, United States International Falls, Minnesota, United States Taconite, Minnesota, United States