Swamp fire closes Highway 12 in Maple Plain, Minn.

Independence, Minn. (KMSP) - A section of U.S. Highway 12 is back open after it was closed for a large grass fire that started Sunday night and into Monday morning.

The grass fire started in the middle of a large swamp east of Independence City Hall around 8:30 p.m., according to the West Hennepin Public Safety Department. The fire was approximately 100 feet by 100 feet when crews arrived, but grew to a fire burning over 50 acres.

Highway 12 was closed for four hours between County Road 83 to County Road 90. It has since reopened to traffic.

The location of the fire in the middle of the swamp made it difficult to put out because the Maple Plain Fire Department could not use their water deployment helicopter until the morning.

No property was damaged and no one was injured in the fire.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.