Dry conditions fuel fast grass fire, damage outbuildings in Ellsburg Township

Dry conditions turned a grass fire in Ellsburg Township into property loss and criminal jeopardy in a matter of hours, after flames near the 1900 block of Sheldon Road burned a few outbuildings and led to formal charges against a woman authorities say was responsible for the negligent fire.

The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were called around 12:16 p.m. on April 21 after a caller described the fire as big. Local fire departments, the sheriff’s office, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and DNR air support all responded as the blaze moved through dry ground and vegetation. The county said the fire was fully contained and no longer a threat.

No habitable structures were damaged, but the loss of several outbuildings showed how quickly a rural fire can jump from a nuisance to a serious incident when conditions are dry and there is room for flames to run. KAXE reported the fire grew to about 10 acres before crews got it under control a few hours later.

The weather backdrop made the danger plain. WDIO reported that most of Minnesota was under High Fire Danger, and that 66 counties were under a Red Flag Warning on April 20. County officials said the dry conditions helped the fire spread quickly, and the DNR took over the investigation into how it started.

The sheriff’s office said a female caller is facing formal charges tied to the negligent fire, and her name was withheld in the release. KAXE also reported that under Red Flag Warnings, burning permits for brush piles are not issued, a restriction meant to keep exactly this kind of fire from racing across dead grass, brush and other dry fuels.

For Ellsburg Township, the outcome was far better than it could have been. Crews kept the fire away from homes, but the damage to outbuildings and the pending charges underscore how fast spring fire danger can turn into a public-safety problem in St. Louis County.