Tuesday, March 31, 2026
On Sunday, March 29, 2026, fire crews from the Camp Ripley Training Center and personnel from the Training Area Management team responded to a wildfire in the northern part of the installation. "Camp Ripley’s fire department and emergency services were able to contain the fire. Approximately 2,000 acres have burned, but crews are establishing a control perimeter," stated [Major Michael J. Popp Director of Plans, Operations and Training at Camp Ripley Training Center. Minnesota's unpredictable weather at this time of year can create dry conditions favorable for fires initiated by training activities. Additionally, low cloud cover can reflect the light from flames, making a fire appear larger than its actual size. The Camp Ripley Training Center has scheduled controlled burns in the coming days as a standard procedure to mitigate future wildfire risks. "We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from the public as our crews work to contain this fire,” said Lt. Col. Steve Hall, Deputy Post Commander of Camp Ripley Training Center. “The safety of our community and our personnel is our top priority, and we are committed to not only managing this incident but also to strengthening our strategies to mitigate future fire risks on the installation." Residents of Southwest Crow Wing County noticed an orange glow in the sky Sunday along with some smoke in the area. Again the fire is being controlled along with their burning at the facility and appreciate the support from the community.
A fire destroyed a storage facility for a wood products company in Cass Lake last night. Firefighters responded to the scene on the south side of Cass Lake around 10:45 p.m. and found a large fire at the Timberlyne Wood Products kiln drying and storage facility. Firefighters and equipment from the Cass Lake Fire Department, Bemidji Fire Department, Walker Fire Department, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources worked throughout the night to contain and extinguish the fire. The structure and contents are believed to be a total loss. There were no reported injuries associated with the fire, and the investigation is ongoing with the assistance of the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office.
A release from the Roseau County Sheriff’s Office says at around 4:50 a.m., a Canadian Railway train and 42 railcars went off the railroad tracks north of the city of Warroad. Two of the cars were identified as “dangerous goods cars,” and a precautionary evacuation and road closures were ordered for the area running from 400th Street to County Road 137 along Highway 313. The Sheriff’s Office says first responders, railway officials, and mutual aid partners are on-scene and working on clean-up activities, which could take two to three days. Authorities say there are no environmental concerns at this time, but state hazardous materials teams from International Falls and Grand Rapids are on-scene for air monitoring and leakage checks from railcars. The Patch Motel in Warroad is open as a shelter for individuals that live in the evacuation zone. Additional information will be provided on the Roseau County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.
Two adults are dead and one child is fighting for her life after a car crash late Sunday night in Park Rapids. The Minnesota State Patrol reported that a Ford F-150 crossed the center line while traveling on Highway 71 and hit a KIA Telluride in a head-on collision just before midnight. Both drivers died. Bradley James Hayes, 45, was the driver of the Ford F-150 and Kimberly Soon Jin Rife, 39, drove the KIA Telluride. A 5-year-old boy was in Hayes' truck and he is recovering from non-life-threatening injuries. A 13-year-old girl, who was a passenger in the Telluride, is in life-threatening condition at the hospital. The State Patrol reported that officials suspect Hayes was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
A Waite Park woman was hurt when a turkey flew into her windshield. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened on Sunday at about 8:45 a.m. on Interstate 94 in Albertville. Thirty-seven-year-old Jennifer Kounsa of Waite Park was traveling east when the turkey struck her windshield. Kounsa was taken to Mercy Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Three people were hurt in a two-vehicle collision near Princeton. The Minnesota State Patrol says the incident happened on Sunday at about 11am on Highway 95 in Mille Lacs County. Both vehicles were going west when a Dodge Grand Caravan stopped to turn left onto 100th Avenue when it was struck from behind by a Hyundai Sonata. The driver of the Sonata, 67-year-old Martha Frady of Foley, was taken to Fairview Northland Hospital in Princeton with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Caravan, 41-year-old Brant Dirks of Zimmerman, was not hurt. Two of his passengers, a 44-year-old woman and a 74-year-old woman from Zimmerman, were both taken to Fairview Northland Hospital in Princeton with non-life-threatening injuries.
Minnesota Department of Transportation began road work on a number of projects Monday including work near Albertville on Interstate 94 with lane shifts, Highway 169 work started Monday, the pedestrian bridge work began last week in Sartell. For the latest road work projects check out 511mn.org.
Weather: Tuesday morning rain/snow showers, then sunny and windy, high 46, Tuesday night clear skies and colder temperatures low 24. Wednesday cloudy skies, high 41 then rain/snow develops in the afternoon changing to all snow Wednesday night low around 25, with 1-3 inches possible. Thursday snow likely at times, high 38, low around 28. Rain and snow Friday with accumulations possible Friday night into Saturday, cold and windy, high 35, low around 30. Saturday high near 40, low around 20. Sunday sunny and high 43.
Sports: Longtime Minnesota Gopher wrestling coach from 1986-2016 J Robinson has died at age 79, Robinson won 3 NCAA Championship and had many National Champions in his tenure. Also legendary Vikings safety Joey Browner reportedly has died at age 65. Browner was drafted by the Vikings in 1983 and was a 6 time All Pro in his career. Browner later in life lived in the Pierz/Onamia area and worked at Grand Casino Mille Lacs. If you want to hear the interviews from the Upsala players interviews by Alex Carmenaty of Little Falls Radio and the games from last week they are archived at fallsradio.com on the bottom of the sports page. Also they have been posted on the videos part of the Little Falls Radio Facebook Page.