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May 31, 2009 11:04 pm US/Central
Homes Evacuated, Acres Burn In Andover Grass Fire
ANDOVER, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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According to authorities, the fire started at about 3:30 p.m. in a marshy area on Bunker Lake Boulevard and 7th Avenue. Crews were fighting the fire on two different areas surrounding Round Lake.
CBS
More than 100 acres of marshy land are charred in Andover after crews spent most of Sunday afternoon battling a spreading grass fire that threatened nearby homes.
According to authorities, the fire started at about 3:30 p.m. in a marshy area on Bunker Lake Boulevard and 7th Avenue. Crews were fighting the fire on two different areas surrounding Round Lake.
"Within 20 minutes we had probably about 10 to 15 acres burning and it just took off on us across the swamp," said Andover Fire Chief Dan Winkle.
Most of the fire was out by about 7:30 p.m. with crews still putting out hot spots.
Fire officials say about 50 homes were evacuated because they were in the direct path of the fire. The residents were given two minutes to get out as much of their personal belongings as they could.
"I was looking for a garden hose to try to wet down the lawn and stuff. And before I even could find anything they said you're going to have to leave," said homeowner Bryan White.
Neighbors were helping neighbors grab things quickly before evacuating.
"I was grabbing anything that looked important," said Cody Olson, who helped a neighbor quickly evacuate. "We don't know them too well so we asked her what she wanted us to grab and she said grab whatever you can. So everyone was just grabbing things that looked sentimental to them."
In all only one house was slightly damaged from the fire.
"As far as I know we have no structure damage. I did hear of some siding melting," said Winkle.
High winds and dry conditions helped the fire spread easily.
The Department of Natural Resources has sent up air assistance to fight the fire. They were dumping water and fire retardant on the flames.
Fire crews also used equipment to stomp out the flames and they did what they could to saturate the area with water where they believed the fire would move.
Eight fire crews fought the fire for about five hours.
Authorities said they are not sure how the fire in Anoka County began.
It is shaping up to be one of the top-three driest Mays on record. A severe drought started last summer in the east metro and most of central Minnesota is abnormally dry.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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