453 Die in Massive Forest Fire, Northern Minnesota was Devastated

So many died, the results of a rapid moving fire, initiated from sparks from the steam engine of a passing train. A fire that took the lives of 453 souls that late October day. As far south as Sturgeon Lake, north through Moose Lake, and across Carlton County, the fire roared on, fanned by heavy winds. Progressing too fast for local residents to evacuate effectively, many perished as they tried in vain to out run the flames. The fire continued on, unchecked, north through Pike Lake, Arnold, Homecroft, and still north east until it finally reached Lake Superior, north of Duluth. The great lake was enough to finally extinguish the flames.

This day, October 12, 1918 will be remembered as the day the State of Minnesota suffered it's greatest loss of life and property from a natural disaster. With 453 dead, 52,000 homes destroyed, and 38 small communities reduced to ashes, the damaged amounted to $7.3 million.

People went into lakes, or covered themselves in plowed fields to escape the flames. Those unfortunate enough to chose hiding in fruit cellars or even going down their wells to seek sanctuary, were found dead. The flames had taken all the oxygen and they suffocated. Whole families were found dead, one on top of the other at the bottom of their wells, the cool water not being enough to save them.

A sharp corner on Highway 73, south of Kettle River, was so densely covered in smoke from the fire, that the resulting car crashes led to the death of 25 people from the fire. That corner, now forever labeled as Dead Man's Curve.

The Red Cross and the Home Guard were quick to respond to the disaster. Supplying food, clothing, and lumber to build primitive cabins for shelter. Some homes that were spared by the flames were used as hospitals. Providing care for the 85 people who were seriously burned. Over 1,500 square miles were blackened by the fire that displaced 11,382 people from their homes.