Evergreen Forest Fire

  • Size: 167 acres
  • Containment: 100%
  • Detected: October 17, 2024
  • Location: Chengwatana State Forest, 10 miles east of Pine City, MN
  • Incident Management Team C (10.18.2024 – 10.25.2024)
  • 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 – 11.01.2024

Current Status: The Evergreen Forest Fire has reached 100% containment. In additional to the incredible work firefighter accomplished to bring the Evergreen Forest Fire to full containment, beneficial rain and snow fell over the burn area yesterday The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Closures:

Closures

Closures Orders: The emergency closure order has been lifted and all of the Chengwatana State Forest is now open as of 8 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 1 – including the Chengwatana State Forest Road and all trails. Due to the fire suppression activities, access roads may be in rough conditions. The Minnesota DNR will be working to improve road conditions over the next couple of weeks.

Incident Overview

The Evergreen Forest Fire was detected late in the afternoon on Thursday, October 17, in the vicinity of the Chengwatana State Forest, east of Pine City, Minnesota. The fire was initially estimated at 140 acres burning in a remote area of the State Forest’s lowland swamp and heavy timber. Upon improved mapping, the size of the fire is 167 acres.  

The Minnesota DNR is leading the response, and initially received mutual aid support from the Pine City Fire Department during the initial attack response. During the initial 48 hours of response, multiple aircraft capable of dropping water and fire retardant were utilized to help cool and slow down the active fire along the edges, helping support the firefighters, engines and other heavy equipment working to control the fire on the ground. 

The DNR decided to request a Type 3 Incident Management Team (MNICS Team C) on October 18, 2024 to manage the fire and coordinate resources. While the team was in place through October 25, 2024, multiple cooperating agencies provided support including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Pine County Sheriff’s Department, Pine County Emergency Management, Pine City Fire Department, and Chengwatana Township.  

After the extreme red flag warning fire weather event on October 17, conditions progressively improved each day. The area was experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions, and wildfires that did develop in these conditions throughout Minnesota were requiring greater effort to control and extinguish.  

On Thursday, October 31, 2024 the DNR declared the fire 100% contained and lifted the Chengwatana State Forest closure order on November 1, 2024 at 08:00 a.m.

Links to Previous Updates:
A topographic map with forest closure area shaded tan, fire area shaded pink and water sources shaded blue.

PIO Map PDF version