Fire at Chengwatana State Forest Now Fully Contained

(KNSI) – The Evergreen Fire hasn't quite lived up to its name.

After burning 167 acres near Pine City over the course of about two weeks, the Minnesota Incident Command Center lists the blaze as 100% contained. Officials said Friday the result is a testament to the hard work of firefighter crews, but they had some help late last week with rain and snow.

The emergency closure order for Chengwatana State Forest was lifted on Friday. It includes all roads and trails through the park. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is promising to put in work to smooth out the access roads before a hard frost sets in.

Agencies from federal, state, and local jurisdictions responded to the fire, including U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, Pine County Sheriff's Office and Emergency Management, the Pine City Fire Department, and Chengwatana Township.

The cause of the blaze is still under investigation. It broke out under dry conditions and high winds.