The brush dump site on Jack Pine Road, a year-old Firewise project that quickly became a lifeline for Brimson area residents during this summer’s fire bans, is now temporarily closed after overwhelming use and the expiration of grant funding.
Ken and Bonnie Swanson, associate members of the Brimson Fire Department and volunteers with the Firewise program, have been overseeing the site since it opened. Ken said the goal was simple. “The more we get out of your neighbor’s yard, the better chance off yours is going to make it too,” he said.
The site allowed residents to drop off brush under six inches in diameter, which White Pine Forestry and Excavation of Two Harbors would later mulch under a DNR grant. The system worked well for most of the year.
“They answer the phone when I call them, they talk like real people, they answered whatever. It is a super company to work for,” Ken said.
Heavy use this summer pushed the site past its limits. The DNR grant that funded mulching ended June 30. White Pine completed one last round of chipping on June 24. By July 27, the site was full again.
“It was packed 6 foot high all the way out to the road,” Ken said.
Dovetail Associates in Ely located $4,500 in emergency funding, which allowed one more round of mulching. After that, there was nothing left.
“I had a real hard time pounding that closed sign in over there in the road the other day,” Ken said. “Dang it, I want this to work.”
The closure is (hopefully) not permanent, but the timeline is uncertain. Ken has been pursuing a portion of the $250,000 Brimson Complex funding through IRRRB, AEOA, and St. Louis County. The three agencies meet August 7 to allocate the money.
“Hopefully one of those pigeonholes has Brimson Area Fire Department and Firewise included,” he said.
The request includes money to reopen the site this year and to fully clean out the debris, which St. Louis County requires for continued use of the land.
Bonnie has also filed for a new DNR grant. The decision is expected in October, with funds available in June 2027. It is not yet clear whether those dollars could be used for hauling debris or only for chipping.
The Swansons emphasized that community participation is critical for the site’s future. A small mailbox at the entrance holds slips where residents can record their name, address, and the hours spent clearing brush. Those hours directly affect grant eligibility but not everyone has been filling out the form.
“If they really understand that this is how we can apply for grants by saying we have 500 hours worth of time that people have spent, that is really important,” Ken said.
Oversized logs have also caused problems. The sign clearly states six inches in diameter or less, but Ken said they still see eight, ten, and twelve inch pieces. This causes issues for the contractor coming to mulch the brush. Larger material can be taken to the Cane Lake site, which burns brush instead of mulches.
Despite the challenges, Ken said the community has shown strong support for Firewise efforts, especially during this summer’s fire ban and the ongoing fires near Ely.
“They cannot burn it in their own fire pit so it has got to go somewhere,” he said. “People do not want to have chapter three of the firestorm coming through.”
Residents with questions about the site or Firewise home assessments can reach Bonnie at 218-390-8273 or Ken at 218349-0719.
