Sauna/office building destroyed by fire at Adventurous Christians wilderness camp

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office received a call from 81 Bow Lake Road off the Gunflint Trail just before 2 p.m. Friday, June 21, reporting a small fire inside the Adventurous Christians wilderness camp’s sauna building.

The sauna building, which also housed the camp’s office, is located down a long driveway, and the caller told law enforcement dispatchers that someone would meet responders to direct them to the fire. Gunflint Fire Department and Gunflint Ambulance crews were en route within minutes and were on scene by 2:15 p.m. to find the building fully involved. The Maple Hill Fire Department was paged for mutual aid, as well as a U.S. Forest Service fire crew, which arrived on scene to assist by 2:40 p.m.

At 2:47 p.m., crews reported that the building’s roof just collapsed.

The fire was determined to be contained by 3:10 p.m. The fire departments were able to keep the fire from spreading to the surrounding forest and there were no injuries, but it appears the sauna and office building was a complete loss.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and is under investigation. 

According to the Adventurous Christians’ Facebook page, staff was able to remove most of the office items before the fire spread to that portion of the building.

Adventurous Christians (AC) was temporarily without phone or internet service, but AC Director Matt White said service has been restored. He said no programming has been cancelled.

Director Matt White said, “We are extremely thankful to the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department. Their dedication and service is greatly appreciated.”

White added that he was overwhelmed by the community response of offers of meals, showers,  housing and more. “I could give you a list of names of those who offered help, but the list is too long! In my first year as director, I’m feeling very welcomed and supported by the community."

Adventurous Christians is a rustic year-round wilderness center of the covenant church owned and operated by Covenant Pines Ministries.