Photos: The Pagami Creek fire in NE Minn.

1

Canoeists paddle through the narrows between Lake Four and Lake Three, looking south at the fire and the smoke on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011. "It really grew during the course of the day," said Greg Seitz, communications director for the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness. (Photo courtesy Greg Seitz) link to this photo

2

The Pagami Creek fire in northeastern Minnesota, as seen from Moose Lake northwest of Ely, Minn. on Monday, Sept. 12, 2011. (Photo courtesy Jim Blauch, Moose Track Adventures) link to this photo

3

Smoke from the Pagami Creek fire on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011. "The smoke plume went straight up and then plateaued high above our heads. While fishing, it felt like a big storm was brewing, but in reality the skies were blue and clear, except for the incredible effect of the fire," said Greg Seitz, communications director for the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness. (Photo courtesy Greg Seitz) link to this photo

4

Massive smoke plumes rise from the narrows between Lake Three and Lake Four on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011. "We were forced to leave the area due to evacuations and closure," said Greg Seitz, communications director for the Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness. (Photo courtesy Greg Seitz) link to this photo

5

Ely, MN, USA — The Pagami Creek fire burns in the distance over Farm Lake on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2011. Moose Track Adventures owner Jim Blauch said the fire has gotten worse since Sunday and now looks "like an atomic bomb went off." (Photo courtesy Jim Blauch, Moose Track Adventures) link to this photo

6

This image taken from NASA's Terra satellite from shows smoke from the Pagami Creek fire in northeastern Minnesota on Monday, Sept. 12, 2011. (Image courtesy NASA) link to this photo

7

Grand Marais, MN, USA — A storm front, boosted by smoke from the Pagami Creek fire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, heads towards Lake Superior in Grand Marais, Minn. on Monday, Sept. 12, 2011. (Photo courtesy Bryan Hansel, www.bryanhansel.com) link to this photo

8

Grand Marais, MN, USA — Clouds and smoke from the Pagami Creek fire move over Grand Marais, Minn. on Monday, Sept. 12, 2011. (Photo courtesy Bryan Hansel, www.bryanhansel.com) link to this photo

9

Grand Marais, MN, USA — Clouds and smoke from the Pagami Creek fire move over Grand Marais, Minn. on Monday, Sept. 12, 2011. (Photo courtesy Bryan Hansel, www.bryanhansel.com) link to this photo