Minnesota National Guard Joins Fight Against Wadena Co. Wildfire

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Minnesota National Guard has joined the fight against a wildfire that has burned more than 1,400 acres near Nimrod in north-central Minnesota.

The Guard sent two Blackhawk helicopters and 12 soldiers to help control the fire.

The blaze, dubbed the Jeep wildfire, is 80 percent contained.

Ron Sanow is with the fire command team of the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center.

"The firefighters are making some progress," he said. "It's a cool day but windy. The fire is kicking up in a few places but they are holding their own."

The fire destroyed the garage of a home, and a mobile home that had been used as a hunting shack.

Sanow says even with restrictions in place, it's likely to be a difficult spring.

"The seasonal burning restrictions are in place. The only thing that's allowed right now are recreational fires, and I'm surely asking folks to restrain from those unless they are absolutely necessary," he said. "It's just not worth the risk."

No injuries reported. Sixty people are working on that fire.