Great Hinckley Fire kills more than 450 in Minnesota

Background. Hinckley is a city in Pine County, Minnesota, situated at the junction of Interstate 35 and Minnesota State Highway 48. By 1894 it was a prosperous community serving residents and the fast-expanding lumber industry. Hinckley Township had been named in 1870 after Isaac Hinckley, president of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad. After a two-month summer drought, combined with very high temperatures, several small fires started in the pine forests of Pine County.

Fire Conditions. Small fires started in the pine forests after a two-month summer drought. Common late-summer bog and grass fires were exacerbated by lumber harvesting methods that left flammable debris on the ground. Steam locomotives sometimes touched off these fires. By September 1, 1894, major fires burned south of the town, creating a dangerous environment.

Impact and Aftermath. The firestorm wiped out Hinckley and many northeastern Minnesota towns. The official death count was 418, but the actual number was likely higher. The fire burned at least 200,000 acres. Today, the Hinckley Fire Museum documents the disaster and the town's recovery, located nine blocks west of Interstate 35.