MADELIA, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Mark Dayton met Friday with business owners and city officials in Madelia where fire destroyed a good portion of its commercial district earlier this week.

KMSP-TV says that at a meeting Friday morning, Dayton gave out his home phone number to those gathered in the meeting room and promised executive action to help the community recover. Dayton joked that he lived alone with two German shepherds who don't answer the phone.

Officials say the fire early Wednesday started in a flower shop and spread quickly to neighboring businesses. Seven buildings were lost. A furniture store, a dentist's office, a restaurant and hair salon are among them.

The state fire marshal's office is helping investigate the fire's cause and origin — an investigation that's expected to take months.

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