Northwestern MInnesota fire heavily damages mall and shop building

BELTRAMI, MINN. (KFGO-AM) - The Minnesota Fire Marshal's office has been called in to investigate the cause of a fire that heavily damaged the mall and West Central Ag building in Beltrami, south of Crookston early Friday.

Polk County deputy sheriff Trent Stahlecker says the fire started in a garage area and spread. The shop  was gutted. The post office was also damaged and several other businesses in the complex had smoke damage.

Fire departments from Beltrami, Crookston, Fertile, Ada and Borup fought the fire for several hours before bringing it under control.  Stahlecker says the flames were fed by stored tires and produced heavy black smoke. A passerby on Highway 9 reported the fire around 1AM.