Evergreen Forest Fire

  • Size: 167 acres
  • Containment: 70%
  • Detected: October 17, 2024
  • Location: Chengwatana State Forest, 10 miles east of Pine City, MN
  • Incident Management Team C
  • Cooperating Agencies: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and mutual aid from Pine County Emergency Management.
Current Update – 10.23.2024

Current Status: Firefighting resources continue mop up on the fire, making good progress on the fire’s
containment status. Resources continue to secure containment lines to decrease the potential for
fire spread. Firefighters are monitoring leaf drop and suppressed a small reburn from leaf drop in
the interior of the fire. Fire behavior is mostly smoldering and creeping but can increase when it
creeps into unburned leaf, grass, or brush vegetation. Light and spotty precipitation fell over the
fire yesterday afternoon. Firefighter and public
safety remain the main priorities for the incident.

Planned Actions: Resources will continue to hold and secure containment lines. Firefighters will continue mop up along the fire’s perimeter, working inward. Resources will monitor and suppress new
hot spots or areas of concern from newly fallen leaf litter. Tracked equipment is being used to traverse the difficult terrain.

Fire Weather Forecast & Air Quality Info: Today-Sunny. High of 53 with dropping humidity levels. Northwest
winds 7-10 mph, with gusts up to 22 mph, shifting westerly at 6 mph in the afternoon. Tonight- Mostly clear, then mostly cloudy. Low of 39. Southwest winds 5-10 mph with gusts up to 15 mph. Tomorrow- Showers likely in the afternoon. Mostly cloudy. High of 57. Southwest winds 5-10 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between 0.1” and 0.25” is possible. Air quality is forecasted for
“good” for Wednesday and Thursday. https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air- water-land-climate/air-quality-forecast

Closures

Closures Orders: An Emergency Closure Order remains in effect to ensure public safety and support firefighting operations. The closure area includes the Chengwatana State Forest Road.

Background

The Evergreen Forest Fire was reported on October 17, 2024, on the Chengwatana State Forest, 10 miles east of Pine City, MN. The fire is burning actively in hardwood timber with leaf litter, on Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) managed land. Firefighting resources are using a full suppression strategy with the assistance of aerial suppression of scoopers and helicopter bucket work as needed. Firefighter and public safety are the main priorities.
Access to the fire is extremely challenging, thus firefighters are using tracked vehicles. Fire reburn and spotting is a concern due to continue leaf drop inside and outside of the fire perimeter. The area is experiencing long-term drying and drought conditions due to a significant lack of precipitation.

Links to Previous Updates:
A map with light orange shading defining the state forest, blue defining water bodies, side hash lines defining the closure area, and the fire area shaded pink and outlined in red.