Air quality issue. State environmental agents were monitoring contaminants as winds kept shifting smoke in new directions. Images: Matt Roessler
Regional Red Flag in effect for winds, dryness
WASECA, Minn. – Fire crews on ground and in the air controlled a 1,000-acrewildfire after a day of battling wind-whipped flames on Snake Trail northeast of town. The fire destroyed two homes and injured one person, according to unconfirmed reports. Eight houses were evacuated. It was believed the fire began in a small controlled burn in late morning. Not until 8:45 p.m. did firefighters consider the fire controlled. Crews were staying on-site overnight to catch flare-ups. Two aircraft from the state Natural Resources Department base in Brainerd, 100 miles north, made repeated drops of water during day. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency was concerned about air quality issues not only in Waseca but as far away as Apple Valle, Bloomington, Burnsville, Eagan, Elko New Market, Faribault, Lakeville, Medford, Morristown, Richfield and Minneapolis. The State Patrol was prepared to close Intestate 35, east about 15 miles, if smoke became too heavy.
Buckets of scooped-up pond water. Helicopters mobilized from Brained for continuing sorties as winds kept changing fire’s direction.