fire

Fifty cows died in a barn fire early this (Friday) morning in Stearns County's Spring Hill Township. The Sheriff says the incident happened just after 2:00 a.m. at the Daniel Welle farm. The barn contained about 75 cows, only 20-25 got out safely.

Firefighters are bracing for a gusty day Thursday as they battle a wildfire in the Boundary Waters of northeastern Minnesota.

Firefighters now have a wildfire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of northeastern Minnesota more than 50 percent contained. A Monday morning update says the fire is 53 percent contained. The size remains about 146 square miles.

The forest fire that has burned over 147 square miles in northeastern Minnesota has given a not entirely welcome boost to the Ely area economy.

Hundreds of firefighters continue to make progress in containing a huge wildfire in northeastern Minnesota that began a month ago. A spokesman for the firefighters, Larry Helmerick, said Monday the 147-square-mile fire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is 19 percent contained, an improvement from 11 percent on Sunday.

Continued fire danger is prompting state and federal officials to restrict campfires and open fires in several counties of northeastern Minnesota.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is advising people to take precautions if they smell smoke or see haze from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area fire.

Fire destroyed a shed near Cold Spring. Officials were called just before noon yesterday (Sunday) to the fire on Hidden Cove Road.

A St. Cloud home was destroyed by fire early Sunday morning. Officials say a man came home and saw his house on fire, he went in and rescued his sleeping wife.

A Sartell home was destroyed by fire early this (Wednesday) morning. Officers were called to 32554 River Vista Lane at about 12:15 a.m.