Exactly right Solus.

Just spent the weekend with my brother who is a crew chief for the USFS in Ely.  He's been on every fire since 1999.  FWIW, that numbered lake corridor has been treated with kid gloves for years and this fire was going to be no different until it took on a mind of it's own.  This thing went from 9 acres to 90,000 acres in a matter of days with virtually no way of having the man power available to keep it at a minimum.  Local crews have very little say in the fighting of fires anyway as those decisions are handed down from higher gov't agencies -decisions that can take days to reach the ears of those on the ground.  Fire is big business for Ely - all of those local outfitters were handed gov't "S" contracts for food supply to the fire crews.  Millions of dollars for the area and local outfitters were made in food alone - not to mention all the canoes and gear they had to rent as well.  If you were wondering what those Cub Foods semi trucks were doing in Pamida parking lot all October - now you know.

Wilderness?? Who are we trying to kid?  The BW is simply MN's free backyard for boy scouts and out-of-towners.  Fire is where the money's at.