Fire crews battle large grass fire near Waseca
(KSTP) -Firefighters battled a large grass fire burning north of Waseca on Sunday.
According to the MPCA, the fire may create air quality impacts along I-35 from the Twin Cities to Waseca. They stated that a cold front will move through the area this evening and push the smoke to the southeast.
The MPCA says the areas that may be impacted include Waseca, Faribault, Medford, Morristown, Elko New Market, Lakeville, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Bloomington, Richfield, Minneapolis and Eagan.
The fine particle levels may reach the Orange AQI category, which is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, such as children, the elderly and people with respiratory disease.
Footage shot by Torey Bruegger just after 12:40 p.m. on Sunday about four miles outside of the City of Waseca shows large smoke from the fire.
The blaze was first reported just a few miles northeast of Waseca during the midday hours.
The Twin Cities National Weather Service said it saw the fire on its satellite imagery.
The Minnesota DNR issued a Red Flag Warning about the dangerous wildfire conditions earlier in the day on Sunday, which included Waseca County.