Fire Damages 3 Plows In NW Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO/AP) -- Snow plowing will be an even bigger challenge than usual in one northwest Minnesota county.

A fire broke out at the Clay County Highway Department in Barnesville, Minn. Tuesday afternoon and damaged three snowplows and two road graders.

That will make it hard to clean up the expected snow coming at the end of the week.

The fire caused about $3 million in damage. Assistant Clay County Engineer Nathan Gannon tells The Forum of Fargo that two road graders worth about $200,000 each were lost Tuesday afternoon, including one that was purchased last week.

Clay County Sheriff Bill Bergquist says the cause of the fire is under investigation. The fire was spotted about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Bergquist says the building and equipment are insured by the county.

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WCCO-TV's Mike Binkley Reports