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Rain Expected To Prevent Forest Fire From Growing

ELY, Minn. (AP) -- A half-inch of rain over the next couple days is expected to keep a large forest fire from spreading in northeastern Minnesota.

Nearly 740 firefighters are working the blaze in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Fire information officer Doug Anderson says one firefighter suffered an injury Monday when a tree, knocked down by a bulldozer, hit his leg. Anderson says the firefighter was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Firefighters on Tuesday began to move into areas of the fire in the northeast and southwest which were previously unstaffed. The firefighters come from 28 states.

Authorities say the fire, which has spread to 147 square miles, is 23 percent contained. With rain Tuesday and Wednesday, the fire wasn't expected to gain much ground.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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