Photos: Ojibwe crews tackle the BWCA wildfire

1

Isabella, MN, USA — A crew from the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community works a line off Forest Road 356i north of Isabella, Minn., near the southern edge of the Pagami Creek Fire. (Photo for MPR by Steve Foss) link to this photo

2

Isabella, MN, USA — As with many such crews, this Ojibwe group from Baraga, Mich., travels widely to fight wildland fires around the United States. (Photo for MPR by Steve Foss) link to this photo

3

Isabella, MN, USA — This is the view that greets visitors at the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness entry at Isabella Lake. It was once a deep forest, but is now a charred landscape. (Photo for MPR by Steve Foss) link to this photo

4

Isabella, MN, USA — Firefighters are contending with near record temperatures for October and winds gusting to 20 mph. Small spot fires that have smoldered for weeks unseen outside the fire's containment lines have now flared up. (Photo for MPR by Steve Foss) link to this photo

5

Isabella, MN, USA — In addition to crews on the ground, three new aircraft are dropping thousands of gallons of water on hot spots. The Superior National Forest has closed additional areas adjacent to the fire as a precaution. (Photo for MPR by Steve Foss) link to this photo

6

Isabella, MN, USA — An Ojibwe crew from the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community in Michigan works a line off Forest Road 356i north of Isabella, Minn., near the southern edge of the Pagami Creek Fire. (Photo for MPR by Steve Foss) link to this photo