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Crews contain fire near Chamberlain Friday

More than 66 acres of wooded area north of Chamberlain caught fire Friday, prompting officials to use an array of resources to contain the blaze. The conflagration was more than three-quarters of a mile long at its widest point, said fire inciden...

More than 66 acres of wooded area north of Chamberlain caught fire Friday, prompting officials to use an array of resources to contain the blaze.

The conflagration was more than three-quarters of a mile long at its widest point, said fire incident commander Kip Nelson of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Officials first received word of the fire at 2:24 p.m. near state Highway 64 and 180th Street.

High winds and cover from pine trees made the blaze difficult to contain initially, according to Nelson.

Firefighters finally extinguished the fire around 10 p.m.

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Firefighters from the Akeley and Nevis fire departments were dispatched to the scene. The Park Rapids and Hackensack fire departments also assisted the effort, Nelson said.

Two CL-215 planes, two single engine air tankers (SEATs) and a helicopter worked on the blaze from the air.

The aircraft dumped fire retardant and water from 11th Crow Wing and Ten Mile Lake to contain and dissipate the fire.

The DNR ordered the evacuation of one residence, said Nelson, but no damage to structures was reported.

The Hubbard County Sheriff's Office and Minnesota State Patrol provided security assistance and aided the evacuation.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Park Rapids DNR Forestry office at732-3309.

jamesb@parkrapidsenterprise.com

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