FOUR FIRE DEPARTMENTS RESPOND TO FIRE SOUTH OF SLEEPY EYE

Four fire departments responded to a fire Wednesday afternoon that spread quickly and consumed an abandoned residence as well as several old cars and a grove of trees just south of County Road 24, a couple of miles west of Highway 4.  Sleepy Eye Fire Department was called at 3:37 pm with mutual aid from Hanska, Springfield and Comfrey fire departments.  Dean Domeier told officials that he was burning brush when the fire quickly spread.  Heiderscheidt Construction brought in a track excavator and other gear to remove fire debris in the grove.  Sleepy Eye Assistant Fire Chief Scott Krzmarzick said that the actual cause has not been determined.  No one was hurt.  The DNR is reported a high fire danger in much of Minnesota.