HAWLEY, Minn.— A grain elevator collapsed due to a fire that caused part of the downtown area to be evacuated. Firefighters were dispatched to the fire around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday night to 400 Elevator Street. When crews arrived, the elevator was fully engulfed. Multiple agencies from the surrounding area have been called in to help. Those include; Moorhead, Detroit Lakes, Lake Park, Dilworth and Sabin. Several roads in downtown Hawley were closed off at approximately 12:30 a.m. because of heavy smoke and ashes in the air.
UPDATE: School has been canceled today- Monday for students at Hawley Public Schools. The school cited a lack of water pressure due to the grain elevator fire. People living in Hawley are being asked to stop using City water as the current firefighting effort is putting a strain on the water tower. The fire at the elevator is now considered to be contained, according to Hawley Police Chief Joseph Backlund. But the fire is actively burning. There have been no injuries reported so far, according to Backlund. However, at least part of the elevator has been destroyed by the fire. 17 area fire departments responded to a grain elevator fire in Hawley Minn. The City asked people to stop using its water due to the strain on the water tower. The additional fire departments that responded to assist Hawley are actively hauling in water to help fight the fire, according to a release from the City.