BACKUS — The main shop building at a timber company near Backus was lost to fire over the weekend.
A passing motorist spotted the large building on fire shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday on Highway 371, according to the Cass County Sheriff's Office.
Firefighters from seven area departments worked through the night to contain the blaze at the Sawyer Timber Co. The shop and its contents were deemed a loss.
According to the company’s website, it’s been in business for more than 50 years.
The fire and its cause remain under investigation with the assistance of the State Fire Marshal's Office.
Assisting at the scene were fire departments from Backus, Hackensack, Pine River, Pequot Lakes, Walker, Longville and Crosslake. Also assisting were Minnesota Power, the Minnesota Department of Transportation and North Memorial Health Ambulance.
-
Contributed/Deborah Rose / Minnesota Department of Natural ResourcesThirty-three communities received nearly $5 million in funding, including Virginia, Hill City and other Northern Minnesota cities. A new DNR grant closes Sept. 14, 2026. -
Megan Buffington/KAXELocal livestock producers face limited options for meat processing and slaughter amid market consolidation and workforce shortages. -
Contributed/Max Nesterak / Minnesota ReformerWalz is instructing the DNR not to grant permits. This move bears a strong risk of litigation over Twin Metals, which wants to extract copper, nickel, cobalt and other valuable metals from underground veins. -
And: Glen's Army Navy in Grand Rapids to close after 80 years. -
Emma Krab/KAXEGlen’s Army Navy Store in Grand Rapids, founded in 1946, began liquidating its inventory Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, after 80 years in business. -
Malachy Koons/KAXEThe KAXE Music Team on new music from Megasound, Womack Sisters, Margaret Glaspy, The Mary Wallopers, Ibibio Sound Machine, Angela Autumn, and Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs. Plus T. Rex in '76. -
Contributed/Nicole Neri / Minnesota ReformerThe U.S. Department of Justice sued Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon over his refusal to hand over the voter registration list, which includes voters’ names, birthdates, addresses and partial Social Security numbers. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXEIn an email to KAXE, the FBI provided statements on the active investigations into recent incidents on the Red Lake Nation. -
Contributed/Authors' websitesMinnesota authors Laura Hern, Candace Simar, David Bruns, Bruce Carlson, Julie Jo Larson and William Burleson talk about their books and writing. -
Red Lake and four other Northern Minnesota counties are classified as legal deserts, with fewer than one practicing attorney per 1,000 residents.
