Grantsburg in Burnett County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

1980 Ekdall Church Fire

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, September 12, 2013

1. 1980 Ekdall Church Fire Marker

Inscription. The weather on April 21, 1980 was unseasonably hot and dry. On that day a temperature of 91 degrees combined with a humidity of 18 percent to set the stage for a catastrophic fire. At approximately 12:20 pm. that sweltering afternoon, the historic Ekdall Church Fire began. Fueled by tinder dry conditions and a strong southwest wind, the Ekdall Church Fire consumed acre upon acre on its march to the Saint Croix River. At its peak, the Ekdall Church Fire was estimated to have been traveling nearly 2 1/2 miles per hour. The fire’s destructive path was five miles long and, in some locations, nearly three miles wide. By days end, 4,654 acres of forest and wetlands were destroyed along with 73 structures. One of the structures destroyed was the historic Ekdall Church, from which the fire received its name.

Erected by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Environment • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical date for this entry is April 21, 1980.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 45° 53.748′ N, 92° 39.871′ W.

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Marker was in Grantsburg, Wisconsin, in Burnett County. It was on County Route F, on the right when traveling east. Marker is approximately 8 miles north of Grantsburg. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 13200 Cnty Hwy F, Grantsburg WI 54840, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in Western Wisconsin. It was also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Great North Woods,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 4 other markers are within 12 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Crex Meadows (approx. 2.1 miles away); A Room With A View (approx. 4.8 miles away in Minnesota); Governor Knowles State Forest (approx. 10.1 miles away); Canute Anderson (approx. 11.6 miles away).

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, September 12, 2013

2. 1980 Ekdall Church Fire Marker

Looking southeast from marker site

Current view of former location of 1980 Ekdall Church Fire Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William J. Toman, July 22, 2022

3. Current view of former location of 1980 Ekdall Church Fire Marker

Replacement for 1980 Ekdall Church Fire Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William J. Toman, July 22, 2022

4. Replacement for 1980 Ekdall Church Fire Marker

Nearby Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, September 12, 2013

5. Nearby Memorial

Credits. This page was last revised on December 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 13, 2013, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 2,070 times since then and 66 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 13, 2013, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. 3, 4. submitted on July 23, 2022, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. 5. submitted on September 13, 2013, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.