Cass Lake wildfire may have been intentionally set

Cass County authorities have detained a teenage boy suspected of starting a wildfire that claimed 76 acres of forest Wednesday near Cass Lake.

The fire was reported early Wednesday afternoon. By the time Cass County Sheriff's Deputies arrived at the scene, roughly a mile southwest of Cass Lake in Pike Bay Township, the fire was moving fast through a pine forest.

"There was a lot of blow down material," Minnesota Inter-agency Fire Center spokesperson Jean Goad said. "That's always dicey."

A few years ago, a big storm ripped through the Cass Lake area, dropping branches and whole trees, she said. That wood has been drying ever since, leaving the forests prime for wildfire.

There was plenty of blown down material that helped to fuel the flames according to information released by Cass County, but firefighters from eight area departments, the state Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Forest Service and area law enforcement personnel were able to contain the fire in just a few hours. A DNR water bomber flying low over the wildfire doused the area. The flames were finally contained with a bulldozer line.

The fire burned 76 acres and authorities evacuated 10 homes. But no one was hurt and no structures were damaged. It's not clear if residents have returned to their homes.

The cause of the flames is still under investigation, but preliminary findings suggest a juvenile, whose name has not been released, started the blaze. He was found near the wildfire perimeter and taken into custody.

Goad said most of north-central Minnesota is pretty dry. Humidity is low and there hasn't been much rain. She said the area will remain wildfire prone for at least a few days. Thunderstorms are forecasted to soak the area over the weekend.