The 1918 Cloquet Fire

Figure 1. Illustrates the significance of the wildfire's path
across major areas in and around the city of Cloquet.

On October 10, 1918, Minnesota experienced an extraordinary wildfire started by a simple spark of a train. This small spark would create large effects that would destroy the land and change history forever. A few conditions must be met for a wildfire to occur- dry fuel from organic materials, oxygen in the air, and high heat. These factors allowed this tragedy to ensue due to the drought in the area and strong, dry winds. Not only was Minnesota experiencing a drought, but the logging industry littered the countryside with dry lumber, making it an easy target for the fire to ignite and spread. The fire began in the afternoon and lasted all of 15 hours.

Figure 2. Reveals the remnants of trees and
one of the few buildings to remain standing.

According to the Weather Bureau, winds reached speeds up to 76 miles per hour that evening, allowing the fire to spread rapidly across the land. The wildfire was not contained in the city of Cloquet, rather spreading to areas in Moose Lake and Kettle River. Those able to evacuate in time watched as homes exploded into flames that reached a height of 100 ft. The community of Cloquet received warning of the threat from the sounds of factory whistles and operators who phoned every citizen. The town mayor organized the arrival of evacuation trains which would ultimately transport 7,000 people out of danger. The main loss of life occurred in Moose Lake and surrounding areas where the thought of escape was too late. In total, 250,000 acres burned and over 450 people died. An estimated 73 million dollars’ worth of damage wreaked over the community.

Figure 3. The severity of the wildfire is seen by the 
intense flattening of the city and tumultuous debris.

This natural disaster has been recorded as one of the worst in United States history. The immense loss, pain, and suffering of these communities will be forever haunting, but can be used as a lesson for the future. Almost everyone in the city of Cloquet survived, thanks to the undying concern of the city mayor who sprung to action amidst the chaos and terror. If it weren’t for the four evacuation trains, many would have no other option but to remain and burn with their possessions. Unfortunately, much of this disaster could have potentially been avoided, had the lumber industry handled their waste more seriously. With the knowledge of a drought that had been affecting the area for the summer and fall months, workers should have been more aware of their surroundings. Dry lumber encompassed the countryside fields and brush for miles, creating a dangerous trail of hazards. The wildfire quickly became unpredictable which made it difficult to alert surrounding areas (along with the lack of technological resources at this day in age). The most important piece to take from this horror is for communities to fully understand the significance of mitigation and safety in their environment. Knowing the signs of hazards is a crucial step in preventing deaths and economic suffering.

The video above gives a brief overall summary of the tragedy that hit the cities of Cloquet, Moose Lake, and Kettle River. The narrator emphasizes the effects of the lumber industry in the area and how this lead to concerns.

Sources Cited

https://www.weather.gov/dlh/MooseLake_Cloquet_1918Fires

https://www.mnopedia.org/event/cloquet-duluth-and-moose-lake-fires-1918

https://youtu.be/UdIOYUHAsHw

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/10/12/photos-aftermath-1918-cloquet-moose-lake-duluth-minnesota-wildfire

https://guides.loc.gov/chronicling-america-cloquet-fire

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