De La Hunt Media - KK Radio Network

AT APPROXIMATELY 3:00PM ON TUESDAY, THE RADIO STATION RECEIVED A CALL FROM HUBBARD COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGER BRIAN HALBASCH ABOUT A WILDFIRE THAT WAS OCCURRING WEST OF WALMART AND SOUTH OF THE KAYWOOD ADDITION IN PARK RAPIDS.

THE FIRE WAS QUICKLY SWEEPING THROUGH A WOODED AREA WHICH CAUSED A TEMPORARY EVACUATION OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FROM KAYWOOD ROAD, SOUTH DOWN COUNTY ROAD 1 TO HWY 34 AND EAST, TO HENRIETTA STREET. BUSINESSES ALONG THE 34 CORRIDOR AND RESIDENTS IN THE AREA WERE ASKED TO EVAUCATE.AS THE. FIRE WAS MOVING VERY QUICKLY. THE FIRE WAS THREATENING THE BUILDINGS OF MID-STATE INSULATION AND KNUTE-NELSON HOME CARE.. BUT WITHIN A 10 MINUTE WINDOW OR SO THE FIRE WAS ABLE TO BE SLOWED DOWN CHANGING THE EVACUATION WARNING. BUSINESSES ALONG 34 WERE ASKED TO STAND BY AND STAY ALERT IN CASE THINGS CHANGED. DNR OFFICIALS DROPED CHEMICALS AND WATER FROM THE AIR TO HELP IN THE FIGHT AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE FIRE CONTAINED BY ABOUT 3:50PM.

ACCORDING TO BRIAN HALBASCH, THERE WAS NO STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO AREA RESIDENCES NOR TO ANY BUSINESSES. THE FIRE MOVED THROUGH A WOODED AREA AND FIELD. SMOKE FROM THE FIRST WAS CAUSING SOME VISIBILITY TO TRAVELERS ALONG HWY 34 EAST TOO.

EMERGENCY PERSONAL SPEND THE BETTER PART OF THE EARLY EVENING DEALING WITH HOT SPOTS AND KEEPING AN EYE ON THE FIRE IN CASE IT TOOK OFF AGAIN.

HATS OFF TO THE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS FOR GETTING ON THIS FIRE AND KNOCKING IT DOWN AS QUICKLY AS THEY DID AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN A BAD SITUATION IF IT WERE ABLE TO CROSS HOLLINGER STREET.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT UNTIL THINGS GREEN UP BETTER AND WE GET SOME RAIN THE PEOPLE DO NOT BURN. THE SLIGHTEST SPARK CAN EASILY TAKE OFF AND CAUSE A WILDFIRE. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS EFFORT.