A massive forest fire rages through Minnesota on October 12,
1918, killing hundreds of people, leaving thousands homeless
and burned at least 1,500 square miles.
The fire, known as the Cloquet-Moose Lake fire because that is
where the damage was worst, began at rail lines near Sturgeon
Lake. This region of Minnesota, southwest of Duluth in the
eastern part of the state, was ripe for a major disaster of this
sort. The area’s timber industry used crude slash methods in
the thick forests, leaving behind dry scraps that were perfect
kindling for wildfires. They also tended to leave these scraps
lying around the rail lines that carried wood from the lumber
mills. Since train engines of the time often gave off sparks,
fires were nearly inevitable.
Making matters even worse, the months leading up to October
1918 were very hot and dry. When the fire began, it spread
quickly due to high winds.
