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Firefighters Douse Hot Spots From Forest Fire

SLIDESHOW: Ely Forest Fire

ELY, Minn. (AP) — Firefighters worked Friday to douse the hot spots left from a forest fire that came dangerously close to the popular tourist town of Ely in northeastern Minnesota.

St. Louis County Sheriff's Department spokesman Scott Camps says residents from a-half dozen homes south of Ely spent Thursday night elsewhere because of the fire. Earlier Thursday, city officials asked about 230 residents in Ely to voluntarily evacuate. They were allowed to return a few hours later.

The city of about 3,500 people is a primary outfitting and entry point for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

About 150 acres burned. Camps says the fire apparently started when a tree fell and snapped a power line, and the fire spread quickly due to high winds and dry conditions.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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