Clay County fire causes $3 million damage
Published 2:11 pm Wednesday, December 29, 2010
BARNESVILLE, Minn. — A fire that destroyed the Clay County Highway Department building in Barnesville caused at least $3 million in damage.
Assistant Clay County Engineer Nathan Gannon tells The Forum of Fargo that two road graders worth about $200,000 each were lost Tuesday afternoon, including one that was purchased last week.
Three plow trucks and another vehicle were also destroyed inside the 50-foot-by-100-foot building. The building and all its contents were considered a total loss.
Gannon says officials are working to rent backup equipment in anticipation of a snowstorm that is forecast to hit the area early Thursday.
Clay County Sheriff Bill Bergquist says the cause of the fire is under investigation. The fire was spotted about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Bergquist says the building and equipment are insured by the county.