Greenwood Fire, Superior National Forest

Burn scar, firefighter deployments and aftermath near Isabella, Minnesota, across 27,000 acres of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

September 2021 — Isabella, MN

The Greenwood Fire ignited in August 2021 after a lightning strike hit the drought-stressed timber of the Superior National Forest near Isabella, in northeastern Minnesota. By the time it was contained, the fire had consumed approximately 27,000 acres, burning through forest and wetland and reaching portions of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

The forest the fire moved through had been left unusually vulnerable by dry conditions, accelerating its spread across the landscape. At its height, hundreds of US Forest Service crew members battled the blaze, with 97 personnel remaining within the closure zone to manage the aftermath once the fire was no longer actively spreading. The burn scar the fire left behind — standing skeletal trees, charred forest floor, melted debris — remains visible across the landscape near Isabella, a community that sits within the national forest itself. The Superior National Forest is no stranger to fire as part of its natural cycle, but a burn of this scale carries lasting consequences for the ecosystems it moves through.

Burned trees in the Greenwood fire closure zone — *October 16, 2021* — Within the closure zone of the Greenwood Fire that burned from August to September near Isabella, Minnesota in the Superior National Forest.

Greenwood Fire damage near Isabella, Minnesota — *October 16, 2021* — Within the closure zone of the Greenwood Fire that burned from August to September near Isabella, Minnesota in the Superior National Forest.

Greenwood Fire damage in Northern Minnesota — *October 16, 2021* — Within the closure zone of the Greenwood Fire that burned from August to September near Isabella, Minnesota in the Superior National Forest.

SNF Greenwood Fire 2021 — *September 27, 2021* — A road traverses the charred landscape within the Greenwood Fire closure zone in Minnesota's Superior National Forest. This area was severely impacted by the Greenwood Fire, which burned 27,000 acres after a lightning strike ignited the extremely dry forest. Hundreds of US Forest Service crew members were deployed to combat the wildfire, with ongoing efforts continuing in the aftermath. The fire significantly affected this northern Minnesota wilderness, including portions of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness near Isabella.

Stream in the middle of the Greenwood Fire SNF — *September 27, 2021* — A burnt forest stands within the Greenwood Fire closure zone near Isabella, Minnesota, part of the Superior National Forest and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The Greenwood Fire, ignited by a lightning strike in an exceptionally dry forest, burned approximately 27,000 acres in 2021. Following the extensive wildfire, the US Forest Service deployed hundreds of crew members to manage the area, with 97 personnel continuing operations in the aftermath.

Greenwood Fire Burn Area at Sunset — *September 27, 2021* — 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.

Burned out road Greenwood Fire Minnesota — *September 27, 2021* — A road winds through the Greenwood Fire closure zone within Minnesota's Superior National Forest, showcasing the extensive impact of the August 2021 wildfire. The Greenwood Fire, ignited by a lightning strike in an exceptionally dry forest, burned approximately 27,000 acres, affecting parts of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

A home in the middle of Greenwood Fire — *September 27, 2021* — A home in Isabella, Minnesota, stands within the Superior National Forest, showing the aftermath of the Greenwood Fire. This significant wildfire, ignited by a lightning strike, consumed 27,000 acres across the forest and parts of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. While hundreds of firefighters initially battled the blaze, a smaller contingent of 97 crew members continued working in the closure zone to manage its lasting effects.

Forest fire in Superior National Forest — *September 24, 2021* — Melted cans rest on the charred forest floor in the Superior National Forest, a lasting impact of the Greenwood Fire that ignited in August 2021. This significant wildfire devastated areas near Isabella in northern Minnesota, affecting the landscape within the Superior National Forest and adjacent Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Burnt trees in Superior National Forest — *September 24, 2021* — Burned trees stand within the Superior National Forest, illustrating the lasting impact of the Greenwood Fire. This significant wildfire ignited in August 2021 near Isabella in northern Minnesota, affecting a substantial area of the forest. The Superior National Forest, which borders the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, is accustomed to natural fire cycles, but the scale of such events has broader ecological implications.

Forest Fire in Northern Minnesota — *September 24, 2021* — The landscape near Isabella, Minnesota, displays the aftermath of the Greenwood Fire, which occurred in August 2021. This wildfire significantly impacted the forest and wetland ecosystems within the Superior National Forest, an area adjacent to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Greenwood Fire Superior National Forest — *September 24, 2021* — Charred trees stand in the aftermath of the Greenwood Fire within the Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota. This wildfire burned in August 2021, impacting areas near Isabella and within the broader Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The Greenwood Fire consumed over 26,000 acres, leaving behind a landscape of scorched earth and skeletal tree trunks.

Burned forest during Greenwood Fire — *September 24, 2021* — Charred trees stand within the Superior National Forest, marking the extensive burn scar left by the Greenwood Fire. This significant wildfire ignited in August 2021 in northern Minnesota, near Isabella, impacting thousands of acres within a region adjacent to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

New Jersey Forest Fire Service in SNF — *September 24, 2021* — A New Jersey Forest Fire Service firefighter operates a fire apparatus in the Superior National Forest, Minnesota. This deployment occurred during the Glenwood wildfire, a significant forest fire event in the region. Forest fire services from various states often provide mutual aid to combat large-scale wildfires across national forests and other wildland areas.

Forest Squirrel on burned log — *September 24, 2021* — A squirrel rests on a charred log within the Superior National Forest, an area significantly impacted by the Greenwood Fire. This major wildfire, which occurred near Isabella, Minnesota, burned thousands of acres, including portions of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Greenwood Fire, Superior National Forest

Minneapolis Photographer