By Associated Press - Monday, April 13, 2015

RICE LAKE, Minn. (AP) - Authorities say warm temperatures and dry conditions led to a grass fire that burned across five acres in St. Louis County.

The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office says the fire started Saturday afternoon when a homeowner was burning cardboard in a burn barrel in Rice Lake Township. The sheriff’s office says the fire destroyed two outbuildings and an RV as it spread north to Gnesen Township.

WDIO-TV (https://bit.ly/1amkOdY ) reports the Air National Guard, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and 14 other agencies were called to battle the blaze.



Residents were evacuated from nearby homes as a precaution, but no injuries were reported. An investigation is ongoing.

Sgt. Todd Abernathy of the sheriff’s office says the county has seen a significant increase in fires and residents currently aren’t allowed to have fires without a permit.

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Information from: WDIO-TV, https://www.wdio.com

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