Nearly 2,000 acres of grassland in Waseca and Steele counties were burned Sunday, March 3, while firefighting agencies from around the state, including planes and helicopters dropping fire retardant material, fought against the high winds and dry conditions which had prompted the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to issue a “red flag” warning–meaning that the public should light no fires because of the high potential they would spread.
Firefighting efforts began before noon in an area northeast of Waseca near the county road known as the Snake Trail and continued until about 10 p.m., according to a release by the Waseca County Sheriff’s office. By the time it was under control, the fire had spread from northeast of Waseca to Deerfield township in Steele County.
Two firefighters were treated and released; one homeowner was also injured. Numerous residents were asked to evacuate their homes. The sheriff’s office reports that no structures were damaged or destroyed.
According to information shared by Waseca Fire Department chief Jason Forshee during a press conference on Monday, roughly 60 workers from the DNR, Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Waseca County Sheriff’s office and Waseca fire department followed up Monday morning to “assess the area” and “cool down any lingering hotspots.” At the same press conference, DNR representative Jake Froyum stated that the cooler, damp day on Monday was helpful in decreasing the likelihood any smoldering spots would reignite, but that staff would be making day-by-day decisions regarding continuing efforts at “mopping up.”
Law enforcement personnel from Waseca and Steele counties and firefighters from 11 local agencies, as well as planes from Brainerd and units from the state Fish and Wildlife Service all took part in efforts to control Sunday’s fire, which encroached “within feet” of about 12 area homes. A small number of area farmers also brought large-scale tilling equipment which helped protect homes and property by exposing bare earth over swaths of land 50 or more feet wide. According to Forshee, at the height of firefighting efforts more than 20 fire trucks were on site and up to 50 water-carrying vehicles referred to as “tankers.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Minnesota State Fire Marshal's Office, the Waseca County Sheriff’s Office, the Minnesota Department of Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the Waseca Fire Department.
Waseca fire chief Jason Forshee said his department is grateful to “the numerous businesses and individuals who provided food and water” to first responders. Sheriff Jay Dulas shared that his office “would like to extend heartfelt thanks to everyone who assisted. We are thankful our community is so supportive of our first responders.”
A list provided by the sheriff’s office names fire departments from Janesville, Waldorf, New Richland, Owatonna, Medford, Ellendale, Faribault, Morristown, Waterville, Kilkenny, and Elysian as having responded to the fire. Firefighting support from the DNR included air support; further assistance came from the US. Fish and Wildlife Services.
Also providing assistance were North Ambulance Service, Waseca Fire Auxiliary, Waseca County Sheriff’s Posse, Waseca County Emergency Management, Born Well Drilling, law enforcement agencies from the cities of Waseca and Janesville, the state highway patrol, and officers and dispatchers from the counties of Waseca, Steele, Rice and LeSueur.
Waseca County would like property owners who suffered damage to please contact the the Waseca Assessor’s office: https://www.wasecacounty.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=347