Osakis firefighters batte three fires in past two weeks

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There’s been a lot of smoke in Osakis lately.

Osakis firefighters battled a barn fire, cabin fire and grass fire during the past two weeks.

In addition, a Leslie Township building was burned to the ground in an apparent arson fire.

Cows lost in barn fire

An Osakis dairy operation suffered a major loss after a barn fire July 14.

The Osakis Fire Department was called to the Dennis and James Maus farm at 11:55 p.m. Monday, July 15.

The Maus’ barn was fully engulfed in flames when the fire fighters arrived, according to Osakis Fire Chief Mark Pomerleau.

With the help of the Long Prairie Fire Department, 19 Osakis fire fighters battled the blaze for more than seven hours, requiring the use of three tanker trucks from Osakis and at least two more from Long Prairie.

The main barn was a total loss and the two additions were saved, although there is a lot of damage, Pomerleau said. The family lost all of its cows in the fire.

The cause of the fire is unknown.

Fire damages

Lake Osakis cabin

Shortly before 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, the Osakis Fire Department and Osakis Police Department were called to a fire in a cabin at Idlewilde Resort on Lake Osakis. Osakis Fire chief Mark Pomerleau said the fire started on a stove in the cabin and that the cabin sustained smoke and water damage. He added that it would be uninhabitable for a while, but that it is rebuildable.

Grass fire takes off

An out of control grass fire resulted in a call to the Osakis Fire Department Thursday, July 30 at approximately 2 p.m. The department spent about an hour battling the blaze behind the Hensley pallet shop, just off Highway 127.

Arson fire in

Leslie Township

The report of a Leslie Township building burned to the ground came in to the Todd County Sheriff’s Office Thursday, July 30.

The fire department was not called since only the foundation remained when law enforcement arrived.

Formerly a schoolhouse, the abandoned building fire is suspected to be arson, according to an on scene investigation by the sheriff’s office and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Todd County Sheriff’s Department at (320) 732-2157 or 1-800-794-5733.

A reward of up to $2,500 is being offered through the MN Arson Reward Project.

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