On Monday, March 29 at approximately 1:00 p.m. the Polk County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a grass Fire in Section 21 of Tilden Township. Mentor Fire and Rescue Responded. Due to dry conditions and strong winds, the fire spread quickly. US Highway 2, Highway 32, and County Road 45 were shut down for most of the afternoon and into the evening due to the visibility and the rapid spread of the fire.
Multiple agencies responded to assist Mentor Fire and Rescue, including Fertile Fire Department, Crookston Fire Department, Red Lake Falls Fire Department, McIntosh Fire Department, Fosston Fire Department, Erskine Fire Department, Winger Fire Department, Oklee Fire Department, Gary Fire Department, Thief River Falls Fire Department, Beltrami Fire Department, County EMS, Crookston Area Ambulance, US Fish and Wildlife, Minnesota DNR along with Air Support, Salvation Army, Red Cross, Minnesota State Patrol, and Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
This incident is still under investigation at this time it is estimated that 13,000 to 15,000 acres were consumed by the Fire from about 3 miles west of Highway 32 to about one mile west of Mentor mostly between US Highway 2 and County Road 45. At this point, one outbuilding, farm equipment, and hay bales were also destroyed in the fire. There were no life-threatening injuries reported.
Mentor Fire and Minnesota DNR along with air support will be working in this area for the next couple of days putting out hot spots.
