Cooler but still well above normal this week

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Warm temperatures and gusting winds sparked a wildfire in western Minnesota Saturday. 

The fast-moving fire approached homes in Lake Benton, along Highway 14 just east of the South Dakota border. But neighbors say fire crews responded fast, and homes were not damaged.

Teresa Jorgensen was sitting in her sunroom when she smelled smoke in the air. 

“I got up from my sofa and I looked out, and there was a huge plume of really dark smoke that was coming over the top of this hill in our backyard,” Jorgensen said. 

She saw a fire about a quarter mile away, moving quickly through the dry grass. Jorgensen called 911 and fled to her car. 

By the time she left the house — just a minute or two after spotting the fire, she said — flames were already hitting the back edge of her property. She drove a few blocks away and waited with law enforcement and fire personnel.

“It was terrifying to see how fast it went,” Jorgensen said.

It was about 40 minutes before she was able to go home. Thanks to a hill blocking the wind, a change to shorter grass at the back of her yard and fire crews on the scene, the fire missed her house and shed. 

But it left some of the grass singed, and she said the smell of smoke lingers in the house and in her car. 

She said firefighters remained in the area for a couple more hours, putting out smoldering flames in grasses and trees. She also learned that a neighbor, who’s a member of the fire department, had come over during the fire to spray her lawn with water. 

“He was over here protecting us and our neighbors’ properties. That’s amazing to me,” Jorgensen said.

In a post on social media, Lake Benton’s volunteer fire department thanked several local fire departments that assisted, plus first responders from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and the State Patrol. 

“It’s safe to say we know we have our brothers to call for help,” the department’s post said. 

The department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

The area was under a red flag warning for potential wildfires Saturday afternoon – the result of rising temperatures, low humidity and wind gusts over 40 miles per hour. The National Weather Service reported additional fires in South Dakota and Iowa.

Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources 

 Sunday that spring burning restrictions will be in place starting Monday in several counties. Under the restrictions, the DNR won’t issue permits for open burning of brush or yard waste. The department cited warm, dry temperatures and heightened wildfire risk.

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Minnesota Wildfires

Estelle Timar-Wilcox

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Warm temperatures and gusting winds sparked a wildfire in western Minnesota Saturday, just outside a residential area in Lake Benton. 

Grass fire singes yards in western Minnesota

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