Some had traveled several miles and were found frozen or near death. Patients who had wandered away during the chaotic evacuation were slowly returned to the hospital over the next few days. However, 6 patients remained unaccounted for and were presumed dead. In the days following the fire, the remains of 18 patients were recovered from the ruins.Īnother 7 died later from injuries sustained in the blaze, bringing the total death toll to 25. However, the brick walls remained standing and were later incorporated into the rebuilding effort. Peter to wait out the fire.īy the afternoon of November 16, the fire was finally extinguished, leaving the North Wing completely gutted. Patients were transported to jails, schools, churches, hotels and even private homes in St. Bartlett, made the decision to move the female patients from their wing to safety, displacing the male patients who had taken shelter in the barn. Peter and Mankato arrived to battle the blaze, which continued to rage through the night and into the next day. Patients were evacuated outside, with many seeking shelter in a nearby barn. Fueled by the cold November winds, the flames quickly engulfed the wing. The fire started around 7pm in the basement of the North Wing of the hospital.
Peter State Hospital Photo by Minnesota Historical Society The Fire
