Maui Fires Evoke Memories to Fires Of 1918, And The Versatility Of John Agacki

The wildfires that devastated the Hawaiian Island of Maui dominated the news this summer, taking 115 lives in what has been described as the worst blaze in the United States since 1918. That reference should be familiar to many in our area as the Fires of 1918, which raged from Moose Lake, Minn., to Duluth, stopping just short of Superior, also affected as the destination of hundreds of evacuees. “Simply Superior” host Robin Washington visits Moose Lake’s Fires of 1918 Museum and speaks with local historians Diane Olsen and Dan Reed, who give comparisons to the Hawaiian tragedy today.

Also, John Agacki’s musical repertoire ranges from Americana and country to a touch of classical and more than a few sea chanties — or should that be shanties? The South Range native offers his opinion on both the genre’s accepted spelling and applicability to our inland seas, with an example of his own. Agacki joins Washington fresh off performances of shanties and other music at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center and Harvest Fest.