Greenwood Fire Burn Scar Road, Superior National Forest Sunset

A Forest Service road traverses the burn scar of the 2021 Greenwood Fire in Superior National Forest, northeastern Minnesota. This wildfire, ignited by a lightning strike in August 2021, consumed over 27,000 acres of drought-stressed timber. The skeletal tree canopy and exposed soil visible along the road illustrate the early stages of ecological recovery in the affected area. During the fire's peak, approximately 500 personnel worked to protect communities and infrastructure, with U.S. Forest Service crews continuing monitoring and repair work in the closure zone after the blaze. This ongoing process will shape the Northwoods landscape for decades.