This event is no longer active — it's kept here as a record. Recovery may still be underway; the guidance below applies.
The Little Knife wildfire in Lake, Minnesota has burned 4,815 acres and is 90 percent contained as of July 15, 2026. Homes in the affected area face fire damage risk from the ongoing incident.
Overview written from official NASA EONET and National Interagency Fire Center/IRWIN data.
- Type
- Wildfires
- Official size
- 4,815 acres
- Containment
- 90%
- Cause
- Undetermined
- Began
- Status
- Inactive
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Affected area map
The shaded area is the affected-area perimeter reported for this event by NASA EONET (Lake, Minnesota), colored by hazard type. Pan and zoom to explore the map; when more than one observation exists, use the slider below to step through how the reported area changed.
Interactive affected-area map
Lake, Minnesota · ≈ 9.1 sq mi reported extent · Enable JavaScript to explore the map.
2026-08-08 23:12 UTC · ≈ 7.1 sq mi · snapshot 5 of 5
View the timeline — how the reported area changed
Official size & containment
Official incident size and containment reported through NIFC / IRWIN, as we observed it. Newest first.
- 4,815 acres ±0 90% contained
- 4,815 acres ±0 90% contained
- 4,815 acres ±0 90% contained
- 4,815 acres ±0 90% contained
- 4,815 acres ±0 90% contained
- 4,815 acres ±0 90% contained
- 4,815 acres ±0 90% contained
- 4,815 acres ±0 90% contained
Show 25 earlier observations
- 4,815 acres ±0 90% contained
- 4,815 acres ±0 90% contained
- 4,815 acres ±0 90% contained
- 4,815 acres −143 90% contained
- 4,958 acres ±0 85% contained
- 4,958 acres ±0 75% contained
- 4,958 acres ±0 70% contained
- 4,958 acres ±0 49% contained
- 4,958 acres ±0 49% contained
- 4,958 acres ±0 49% contained
- 4,958 acres ±0 49% contained
- 4,958 acres ±0 38% contained
- 4,958 acres ±0 21% contained
- 4,958 acres ±0 21% contained
- 4,958 acres ±0 13% contained
- 4,958 acres ±0 0% contained
- 4,958 acres ±0 0% contained
- 4,958 acres ±0 0% contained
- 4,958 acres −1,042 0% contained
- 6,000 acres ±0 0% contained
- 6,000 acres +2,655 0% contained
- 3,345 acres −2,655 0% contained
- 6,000 acres ±0 0% contained
- 6,000 acres ±0
- 6,000 acres
Shown as reported by our sources — not an official product. For current advisories and the authoritative map, see NASA EONET ↗.
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Fire damage restoration
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Water damage restoration
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What to do now
Latest updates
Official updates and news coverage for this event, newest first — National Weather Service products, local storm reports, incident updates and press headlines. Official items are verbatim government text; news headlines link out to the original outlet.
- Forecast discussion NWS DLH
Area Forecast Discussion
Showers and storms possible Friday night through Saturday with widespread rainfall under one-twentieth inch, a few storms may strengthen.
Show full text Hide full text
000 FXUS63 KDLH 141127 AFDDLH
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Duluth MN 627 AM CDT Fri Aug 14 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- A chance of showers and storms returns Friday night through Saturday. Several additional rounds of precip are possible Monday night through Wednesday.
- Widespread rainfall amounts will be low, generally less than 0.05"
- A few storms may become strong Saturday and Tuesday.
&&
.UPDATE... Issued at 140 AM CDT Fri Aug 14 2026
An expansive area of high pressure was located over the Canadian Prairies early this morning and extended into the Upper Midwest. Skies were mainly clear across the Northland with most locations reporting calm winds. Areas of fog were developing as well, mainly across northwest Wisconsin. The signal for fog elsewhere has diminished, but with very small dewpoint depressions, would not be surprised to see more form. With high pressure remaining in control today, little change was made to the going forecast.
&&
.DISCUSSION... Issued at 356 PM CDT Thu Aug 13 2026
Tonight and Friday:
Relatively quiet conditions persist. Rain chances dwindled although there may be enough moisture convergence tonight near MN/WI Highway 70 t…
- News fox9.com
Minnesota wildfires : Superior National Forest reopening 73 % of BWCA campsites
- News fox9.com
MN wildfires : Authorities report continued containment progress as sections reopen to public
- News northernnewsnow.com
Lightning sparks 3 new wildfires in Superior National Forest, Echo Trail reopens
Show 9 earlier updates
- fox21online.com News
- fox9.com News
Minnesota wildfires : BWCA evacuations shifting as rain slows flames
- WTIP News
- MPR News News
Gusty winds, dry conditions cause uptick in northeastern Minnesota wildfire activity
- fox21online.com News
- WTIP News
The latest: Wildfires and response across Superior National Forest and BWCAW
- Quetico Superior Foundation News
Quetico fire crosses the border into the BWCAW; Trails End Campground reopening
- kare11.com News
Officials anticipating 'peak fire weather conditions' in northern MN Friday
- MPR News News
Crews gain ground on Boundary Waters fires as rain eases conditions
Updates are captured automatically from official and news sources, and may lag the live source. For the very latest, see NASA EONET ↗.