A raging fire at a northwestern Minnesota grain elevator kept crews from at least 17 different departments busy overnight, closing area schools Monday and triggering a request for residents to refrain from using water.
Reports of the fire near the city of Hawley began coming in around 11:30 Sunday night and by the time engine crews arrived the structure was engulfed, with flames leaping high into the night sky. A call went out and fire crews responded from nearby communities like Moorhead, Dilworth, Glyndon, Barnesville, Lake Park and Detroit Lakes. Multiple reports said the fire took hours to knock down, putting a significant strain on Hawley's water supply. The city sent out a message asking residents to refrain from using water as much as possible due to the fire, and school was canceled Monday to allow the water tower and system to recharge.