Dry conditions and high winds fueled a pair of damaging structural fires in the Twin Cities this week.
Three houses were destroyed by fire, and winds were strong enough for the flames to spread rapidly -- once to neighboring homes and once to a nearby park.
Two million-dollar houses were destroyed by fire and a third damaged on the southeast corner of White Bear Lake in Mahtomedi early Friday morning, Oct. 5, after a deck fire spread to a nearby house, the flames fanned by 30 mph wind gusts.
More than 100 firefighters from seven departments spent several hours working to subdue the flames.
A fire that destroyed a home in Brooklyn Park on Thursday morning spread to Oak Grove Park, where firefighters from four agencies fought the brushfire for more than three hours.
The park -- like much of central and southern Minnesota -- was tinder-dry because of persistent drought conditions.
No one was hurt in either of the fires.
On Friday, the DNR added counties in the central and southeast portions of the state to burning restrictions already in place in northwestern and north-central Minnesota. The additional counties will be placed under tighter restrictions beginning at 1 a.m. Sunday.
The new counties are: Aitkin, Anoka, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chisago, Crow Wing, Dakota, Fillmore, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Isanti, Olmsted, Pine, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Wabasha, Washington, Winona, and Wright.
Campfires or recreational fires outside
municipalities are allowed only in a designated receptacle designed for such use and associated with a residence, staffed campgrounds such as state parks, or resorts. Such fires cannot be more than 3 feet in diameter and height. Charcoal fires are not prohibited. Also, no burning permits will be issued to the general public and use of fireworks will not be allowed outside of municipalities.
Counties can impose additional restrictions. For instance, Washington County on Friday initiated a total ban on burning effective at 6 p.m.
Earlier in the week, wildfires in the northwest corner of the state consumed more than 40,000 acres and destroyed a dozen Karlstad-area homes and nearly two dozen outbuildings before being quenched by heavy snowfall. But significant moisture isn't in the forecast for the Twin Cities in the next seven days, according to the National Weather Service.
Keeping leaves, dry brush, firewood and even potted plants (potting soil can spontaneously combust) away from houses and outdoor heat sources is vital. Everything from the proper disposal of cigarette butts to unusually high awareness while using lawnmowers can prevent fires, according to the state fire marshal's office.
The fire on White Bear Lake began at 219 Park Ave. shortly after midnight Friday. The fire quickly consumed the house before jumping to a house just a few feet to the south.
Other houses in the area were evacuated as a precaution, according to authorities.
The Brooklyn Park house fire began in the 10100 block of Georgia Avenue North about 6:30 a.m. Thursday, authorities said. It jumped to Oak Grove Park shortly after damaging nearby homes.
The cause of both fires was under investigation.
Copyright 2012 - Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
