Crime & Safety

Rosemount Fire Tackles Huge Woodchip Blaze

Rosemount fire spent six hours trying to put out a large fire at Dakota Wood-Grinding, Inc.

The Rosemount Fire Department spent a little over six hours putting out a fire at Dakota Wood-Grinding, Inc. near the Coates area late Wednesday evening into early Thursday morning.  

Dakota Wood-Grinding turns logs and wood products into woodchips that are used for fuel at the company's St. Paul plant. Apparently, one of the generators that burns the fuel for power has been out of service for seven months, so the woodchips have been piling up at its Rosemount location.

"The amount of woodchips has climbed to astronomical amounts, which has lead to the fire," Rosemount Fire Chief Scott Aker said. 

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The woodchip pile began smoldering around Dec. 27-28, and according to Aker, the department has been there several times since Dec. 30 (including twice on New Year's Day). The fire department was alerted to the fire after a driver on Hwy. 52 saw the smoke in the air and made the call.

There was glowing embers flying all over [last night and today], but no flames shooting into the air like a structure fire would have, Aker said. The department was able to get it under control, however, the woodchip pile will continue to smolder from deep within due to the size of the woodchip pile, Aker said.

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"It's very labor intensive to dig in the pile," Aker said. "The woodchip pile is about a block long and 30 feet high. It's been a constant battle for the past two weeks."

If the woodchip pile gets wet or hot, it generates heat underneath the pile—making it hard to put the fire out. In addition, one of the problems that the fire department has faced is having no water in the area.  

"All the water must be trucked in from far away," Aker said. 

So, in the past week the department has called for mutual aid help from Inver Grove Heights, Apple Valley, Hastings, Farmington and Randolph. 

Dakota Wood-Grinding's own crew began working at 6 a.m. Thursday and will continue working to spread out the woodchips. 

According to Aker, Dakota Wood-Grinding said they've taken hundreds of loads out of its Rosemount location, but there's still a whole lot left.

Aker said this is the first time the department has had any fire issues with Dakota Wood-Grinding, and that nobody is threatened by it. 

"There is no danger to anyone," Aker said. 


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