6. The Cloquet-Moose Lake Fire
As previously mentioned, Minnesota suffered a massive and devastating forest fire in September 1894. Unfortunately, on October 12, 1918, they would suffer an even more destructive fire that would consume 250,000 acres, leaving 52,000 people were injured or displaced and causing $73 million ($1.256 billion in today’s money) in property damage as it completely destroyed 38 communities.
As with the Great Hinckley Fire, the area suffered from high temperatures, and the forest floor was littered with dry branches. However, on this occasion, the fire was ignited by sparks from passing trains on a nearby railroad. The fire would primarily affect Moose Lake, Cloquet, and Kettle River, leaving much of western Carlton County devastated.
