Wild fires burn 100 acres

On May 4, a wildfire burned 100 acres of forest northwest of Staples near Oylen. Firefighters were on the scene for more than five hours, with the DNR airplane helping local departments fight the fire.

Approximately 6 p.m. on May 6, the Wadena County Sheriff’s Dept received a report of a vehicle fire in Shell River Township, east of Menahga. When Menahga Fire Dept arrived on scene, they found that a semi tractor and trailer fully loaded with round bales of cornstalks had started on fire. The fire spread to another loaded semi tractor and trailer, parked nearby,  loaded with round bales  of cornstalks as well as a pile of the same type of bales. Because of the weather conditions that afternoon, mutual aid was requested from Sebeka, Park Rapids and Wolf Lake Fire Depts. Also assisting was the Menahga Police Dept, MN State Patrol, Tri-County Ambulance and MnDNR, Nimrod. The property is owned by Dave Sabin of Menahga. There were no injuries reported. Both vehicles, trailers and several hundred round bales were lost to the blaze.