DNR, fire departments battle large wildfire near Aldrich

ALDRICH - Several fire departments and the DNR continued to battle a large fire southeast of Aldrich into the early morning hours Sunday.

The fire spread quickly with windy, dry conditions. The Staples (Minn.) Fire Department was on the scene, along with fire departments from Wadena, Hewitt, Verndale, Sebeka and Menahga, Minn. The Department of Natural Resources also aided the fire departments with aircraft and grass units.

Todd County Sheriff Don Asmus issued a news release late Saturday night asking people to stay out of the area to allow firemen complete access to the area.

A call first came in about 6 p.m. of a fire that started near mile marker 88 on Highway 210 east of Aldrich in Bartlett Township.

Two buildings were reported to have been destroyed, one being a house. No one is reported to have been injured in the fire, according to the sheriff's office. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

The area consumed by the fire was estimated to be three miles long and a mile wide in sections 13, 12 and 1 of Bartlett Township.

The sheriff's office will release more information as it becomes available.

1/2: A fire grew quickly east of Aldrich Saturday evening. Four fire departments were battling the blaze. Submitted photo by AshLee Ervin-Tupper

2/2: Heavy smoke from the fire hung over the highway from the East side of Staples. Submitted photo by Becky Sundstrom.