John Deere dealership in western Minnesota damaged in large fire

MADISON, Minn. (FOX 9) - Homes were evacuated Tuesday evening as authorities battled a large fire that destroyed a portion of the John Deere dealership in Madison, Minnesota. 

The fire started at the Midwest Machinery John Deere dealership at about 7:12 p.m. on Tuesday. Mutual aid was called in to help battle the blaze and a local gas line was ruptured, which fed the flames and made it difficult for crews to contain them for a couple of hours, a news release said. 

Due to smoke and inhalation concerns from the fire plume, about 15 homes and two apartment complexes were evacuated. People could reportedly smell the plume of smoke from 10 miles north of Madison. 

At 2 a.m., authorities said the fire was "completely under control" and residents were allowed back to their homes, as the smoke plume had subsided.

Meanwhile, a citywide water restriction was requested to help save the city water storage supply for firefighting. The water restriction order was still in effect as of 2 a.m.

In total, 23 different agencies and departments and more than 60 personnel responded to the blaze. 

No injuries have been reported. 

The primary offices and shop building at the dealership are a total loss. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The original story from Tuesday evening is below.

A large fire burning in far west Minnesota has emergency officials warning residents to conserve water and evacuate the area if needed.

Lac qui Parle County Emergency Management issued the warning Tuesday evening for residents in the City of Madison, Minnesota, about 12 miles east of the South Dakota border, after a large and smokey fire at the John Deere dealership off Highway 40.

In a Facebook post, the county asks residents to avoid the area, and people who live nearby to evacuate if the father is "affecting your home."

The county is also asking residents to conserve water to aid firefighting efforts.

"Please CONSERVE WATER IMMEDIATELY so fire crews have as much as possible to work with, the water tower has been dropping fast," the post reads.

This is a developing story. FOX 9 will update it as more information is made available.