(Spirit Lake)– Authorities say five grass fires that occurred within minutes of each other Sunday afternoon may have been deliberately set.
The fires in northwest Dickinson and southwest Jackson county, Minnesota burned an estimated four hundred acres of land.
One blaze that started on the east side of Highway 86 near Welch Lake jumped the road and quickly spread west. That blaze threatened four homes. Firefighters were able to protect them though. A portion of the highway was closed for about 45 minutes due to the fire.
Fire departments from Spirit Lake, Lake Park and Lakefield, Minnesota battled the blazes that burned through the afternoon and into the evening.
No injuries were reported.
Spirit Lake Fire Chief Wally Jorgenson says the fact the fires occurred within the same area and within minutes of each other is highly suspicious. And he says Minnesota authorities found evidence that a fire there was deliberately set.
