GRANITE FALLS — Dozens of firefighters from eight volunteer departments — along with law enforcement and multiple other entities — worked to protect structures and confine a wildfire in the Minnesota River Valley southeast of Granite Falls on Sunday afternoon.
The fire burned 146 acres of wildland, as well as utility poles, fence posts and multiple hunting stands, according to a news release from the Yellow Medicine County Sheriff’s Office. No injuries were reported.
The emergency response began at 2:23 p.m. Sunday with reports of a brush fire near Highway 167 in Yellow Medicine County. The area was under a red flag warning issued by the National Weather Service due to high winds, low humidity and warm temperatures.
Assisting the Granite Falls Fire Department in battling the wildfire were the Minnesota Department of Resources ; fire departments from Hanley Falls, Sacred Heart, Wood Lake, Clarkfield, Renville, Maynard and Montevideo; the Granite Falls Police Department; Yellow Medicine County Sheriff’s Office; Minnesota State Patrol; Minnesota Department of Transportation; Xcel Energy; Upper Sioux Emergency Management and Wildland Fire.
DNR airborne resources and wildland engines remain staged in the area to monitor conditions on this incident and continued extreme fire weather. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Foul play and intentional open burning are not suspected, however.
The Granite Falls Fire Department issued the following statement in thanks for the support received: “We are grateful to our community and families for supporting us throughout the day. Our mutual aid brothers and sisters were fully prepared to lock arms and fight a monstrous fire. At final count, 23 grass rigs, dozens of tankers and engines, and two helicopters responded to the scene.”
The majority of Minnesota was under a Red Flag Warning until 9 p.m. Monday. Hot, dry and breezy weather conditions continued to produce increased fire danger Monday and are expected to continue into Tuesday.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency also issued an air quality alert for ozone pollution until 9 p.m. Monday. The agency’s Air Quality Index was forecast to reach the Orange category Monday, meaning unhealthy for sensitive groups.
The Camp House Fire in St. Louis County grew from 200 acres Sunday evening to approximately 750 acres overnight, also destroying three cabins. By mid-afternoon Monday, it had burned more than 1,250 acres, according to the Duluth News Tribune . A second fire burning a couple hundred acres had also broken out Monday near the Camp House Fire.
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Camp House, owned by Green Lake Lutheran Ministries in Spicer, is a rustic camp near Brimson, Minnesota.
According to the Green Lake Lutheran Ministries website, there are a total of nine cabins in various sleeping configurations, two bathhouses, two outhouses and large group cabin. The lodge overlooking George Lake offers gathering and meeting spaces, plus outdoor spaces and facilities including a basketball and tennis courts and a sauna.
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