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Wednesday, April 26, 2006

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Wildfire fought off near Motley

Up to 40 acres burn in forest; lack of wind helped containment efforts

By MATT ERICKSON

Staff Writer

A wildfire burned 35-40 acres of grassland and jackpine Tuesday afternoon near Motley, the DNR reported.

The fire, reported at 11:33 a.m., occurred in a remote area in Becker Township in southwest Cass County near Motley. No structures were damaged and no one was injured in the fire, said Al Sharp, DNR forestry technician with the Backus area forestry office.

The fire was fought on the ground by firefighters with the help of bulldozers and track vehicles, Sharp said. From the air, a Brainerd-based CL-215 air tanker and DNR helicopters dropped water on the fire.

The fire, Sharp said, was similar to a Sunday wildfire that burned 40 acres south of Emily.

A CL-215 air tanker, leased to the Minnesota DNR, dropped its load of water Tuesday on a wildfire north of Motley. Fire broke out in a stand of jackpine and was fought with a helicopter, all-terrain vehicles and the bomber until it was contained. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls

"We were fortunate enough today that we didn't have the winds," Sharp said. "If we would've had higher winds, it would have been a much worse scenario. We were able to contain it before it got any bigger."

The fire danger remains high in the area because of a combination of factors, Sharp said, including dry fuels, lack of green-up, warmer weather, low humidity and lack of moisture.

"We're still seeing pretty erratic fire behavior," because of the factors, Sharp said. "Burning has been quite intense, with larger fuels on ground burning."

DNR firefighter Randy Martin worked to clear a fire break Tuesday in the woods around a forest fire north of Motley. The fire danger in central Minnesota remains high. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls

High temperatures will remain between 60-65 degrees through Monday, the National Weather Service in Duluth reported. However, the only rain forecasted in the next week is a 30 percent chance on Friday.

No fire permits are being issued except for specific construction purposes. Though recreational fires are permitted, they can only be 3 feet in diameter and vegetation should be cleared in a 5-foot diameter around the fire.

"And it has to be used as recreational fire. It can't be used for clean up, like burning leaves," Sharp said.

An all-terrain track vehicle worked near a wildfire north of Motley Tuesday. The DNR used an air tanker, helicopter, all-terrain vehicles and several firefighters on the ground to contain the fire. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls

Firefighters expect an increase in fire activity as temperatures continue to rise and vegetation dries out, the DNR reported. Historically 80 percent of all annual wildfires happen in April and May.

MATT ERICKSON can be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.

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