Brooklyn Park house fire spreads to park, closes road

A fire that overwhelmed a home in Brooklyn Park before dawn on Thursday spread to a neighboring park on a windy day amid dry conditions and caused a main thoroughfare to be closed briefly, authorities said.

The blaze struck the home in the 10100 block of Georgia Avenue N. about 6:30 a.m., according to the Fire Department. The family escaped unharmed, but flames spread across the street to a field in Oak Grove Park, said police Inspector Todd Milburn.

The "very large grass fire" was started by embers and was difficult to combat because of high winds and "very dry conditions," the Fire Department said.

The blaze at the house was brought under control, as was the fire that blackened 10 to 15 acres in the park, the department said.

Zane Avenue to the east of the park was closed for a time while firefighters dealt with the two fires, Milburn said.

Brooklyn Park firefighters were joined by crews from nearby departments, as well as the state Department of Natural Resources, Milburn said.

Authorities did not say how the house fire started.

One firefighter was slightly hurt when he stepped on a nail, the department said. He was treated at the scene.

PAUL WALSH