The keen eyes and quick actions of a resort owner Saturday night staved off the threat of a forest fire on the shores of Boulder Lake north of Duluth.
Vernon Skoglund, proprietor of the Silver Fox Lodge, 7495 Boulder Lake Rd., said he noticed black smoke in the distance about 6 p.m. and climbed on the roof of his establishment to get a better look. Concerned by what he saw, Skoglund took a compass bearing and called 911 to report a fire across the lake on the opposite shore, about 1½ miles to the north by northeast.
Gnesen Township Assistant Fire Chief Tim LaCore responded to the Silver Fox Lodge and went to check out the situation, enlisting the help of a Grand Lake Township firefighter who was staying at the lodge's campground. Using that firefighter's pontoon boat, LaCore was able to access the remote shoreland property, where he and another member of his department still had to hike inland about one-quarter mile.
Upon arriving on the scene, they encountered a fire that already had consumed three small buildings, including what appeared to be a dwelling, a garage and a woodshed, LaCore said. None of the structures seemed to have been in recent use.
"The flames were 30 to 40 feet high, and they were already in the treetops," LaCore said.
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The Gnesen Volunteer Fire Department called for assistance from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, as well as the Normanna and Fredenberg fire departments.
With the help of three private watercraft, firefighters transported hoses, portable pumping equipment and other tools to the fire site, but LaCore said they decided to contain rather than attack the fire.
"We established a fire line and essentially let the fire burn itself out," he said.
The DNR was able to access the site by trail with a tracked vehicle that proved useful in removing trees to create the line, LaCore said.
"The woods are incredibly dry, but the good thing is there was no wind to speak of," LaCore said of the conditions.
Had the fire not been discovered quickly or had the wind picked up, the situation could have been far worse.
"It could have become an incredibly dangerous forest fire and done a lot of damage," LaCore said.
LaCore said damage from the fire probably was limited to an acre or less. Firefighters remained on the scene until about 10:30 p.m.
