Frelich said the swaths of woods that are burning are mostly evergreen, specifically fir and spruce that form the backbone of the boreal forest. They’ve been baked to a tinder by the dry heat wave, creating “just the right or just the wrong configuration, depending on your point of view,” he said. “Boreal conifer fuel types are among the most flammable in the world — and among the most intense when they burn," he said in a phone interview Tuesday. “So many tons of combustible fuel per acre ... a lot of boreal forest fires simply can’t be suppressed.” The only thing that could put out the fires quickly would be a deluge. — from the article #FireEcology #Minnesota #BWCA