Barn Destroyed, Home Damaged After Two Separate Fires Wednesday

(KNSI) — An alert Meeker County Sheriff’s Deputy is credited with spotting a fire and quickly getting help to the scene.

According to a press release, around 9:30 Wednesday night, the deputy was patrolling in the area of Highway 4 when he saw the fire in Union Grove Township. He called for help from his own department, Allina Ambulance, and the Paynesville and Eden Valley Fire Departments. When they arrived, the barn was fully engulfed and is considered a total loss. A heat lamp in the barn is believed to be the cause.

The fire didn’t spread to any other structures and no one was hurt.

That was not the only fire in Meeker County Wednesday.

Around 2:45 that afternoon, authorities were called to a house fire in Dassel. The Dassel and Cokato Fire Departments responded, as did Mayo Ambulance and police. A woman at the home said she was in the backyard with her dogs when she noticed the blaze. She went back in to look for her three cats, but was turned away due to fire and smoke.

She was not hurt, but the house was severely damaged. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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