INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, Minn. - It took crews more than three hours to extinguish a fire on a historic swing bridge in Inver Grove Heights.


Flames engulfed part of the old Rock Island Bridge about 2 p.m. Wednesday. Three fire boats on the river helped fight the blaze.

Officials say the fire began while crews were welding beneath a bridge section that was being refurbished.

City parks and recreation director Eric Carlson tells the Star Tribune no one was hurt. Carlson says crews extinguished the fire by 5:30 p.m.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports the bridge was set to reopen Saturday after 18 months of preservation efforts. But recent flooding delayed the opening until next spring.

The old toll bridge was closed to vehicles in 1999 because of its poor condition. The bridge connects Inver Grove Heights and St. Paul Park over the Mississippi River.


Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.