Rash Road Fire in Nemadji State Forest 75% contained; cause under investigation

A wildfire reported in the Nemadji State Forest on Friday morning has been 75% contained, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

According to Minnesota Interagency Fire Center public information officer Leanne Langeberg, the Rash Road Fire was detected west of McDermott Creek on Nov. 7.

Langeberg said the fire is burning in a "mix of hardwood trees and downed leaf litter."

Over the weekend, fire crews mapped the blaze at 120 acres and have contained 75% of the perimeter.

Langeberg said the fire has not grown over the past three days.

"Firefighters are continuing to work on securing the remaining unsecured portion of the fire’s perimeter today, removing leaves and clearing debris that could serve as fuel," Langeberg wrote in an email on Monday. "The firefighters are working with track vehicles that have attached water tanks to extinguish smoldering debris, such as stumps and downed branches, that continue to hold heat near the fire’s perimeter."

The cause of the fire is under investigation.