Firefighters contain field blaze

by Jon Collins, Minnesota Public Radio

St. Paul, Minn. — A fire that engulfed a field in Brooklyn Park on Wednesday has been contained by firefighters.

Brooklyn Park Fire Chief Ken Prillaman said crews were dispatched to the fire in the wetlands between County Road 81 and an industrial park near the 7300 block of Boone Avenue North at 9:30 a.m. He said the blaze was contained with the assistance of more than a dozen agencies by mid-afternoon.

The dry winter weather along with the early spring created conditions for this type of fire, Prillaman said.

"We have a fire load that's dried out, hasn't had time to green up yet," Prillaman said. "Any little spark and just a little wind and you've got a pretty big fire on your hands."

Authorities are still investigating the fire's cause. There were no injuries damage to buildings.