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FACT BRIEF

Did the second and third most deadly wildfires on record in the US occur in Minnesota?

By Jayne Williamson-Lee
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YES

The second and third most deadly wildfires on record in the U.S. were the Cloquet and Moose Lake Fires of 1918 and the Great Hinckley Fire of 1894, respectively, which both occurred in Minnesota, according to the National Fire Protection Association. The most deadly wildfire in U.S. history is the Peshtigo Fire of 1871 in northeastern Wisconsin, which caused 1,152 fatalities.

The Cloquet and Moose Lake Fires were sparked by a passing train near Cloquet in the region’s dry conditions, killing 453 people.

The Great Hinckley Fire, caused by intense weather conditions, resulted in 418 casualties.

The wildfires in Lahaina in Maui, Hawaii, which ignited on Aug. 8, 2023, killed more than 100 people, with searches continuing. It is now among the top ten most deadly wildfires in the U.S. based on NFPA research.

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Sources
National Fire Protection Association Wildland Fires in U.S. History with Ten or More Fatalities
National Weather Service Moose Lake and Cloquet Fires of October 1918
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources The Great Hinckley Fire-1894
National Fire Protection Association Maui wildfire one of deadliest in U.S. history
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.