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Arson Suspected In Some Winona County Grass Fires

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Apr 14, 2009 10:58 pm US/Central

Arson Suspected In Some Winona County Grass Fires

WINONA, Minn. (AP) ― Winona County authorities suspect arson in at least two of four grass fires over the weekend.

Deputies and firefighters were called to a fire Sunday afternoon near Elba. They fought another fire about 1 1/2 hours later near Beaver. The fires burned about an acre or two of land.

Sheriff Dave Brand says both fires were extinguished and may have been the work of arsonists. He says authorities don't know if the fires are related.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will investigate. But Dave Svien, a program forester with the Lewiston DNR Forestry Field Station, says it will be difficult to prove the fires were arson. That's because dry conditions allowed for any kind of ignition source, including electrical fences, farm equipment or a cigarette.



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