Man Accused of Interfering with Firefighters

ST. JAMES, Minn. (AP) — Authorities have accused a man of interfering with efforts to fight a fire that destroyed eight buildings in the business district of the southern Minnesota town of Madelia.

Police had set up a one-block perimeter to keep people out of the area where about 100 firefighters were battling the fast-moving blaze Feb. 3. But the charges filed in Watonwan County allege that 42-year-old Bryce Gary Weiss, of Madelia, entered the area anyway to take pictures, and that he tried to tell the fire chief how to fight the fire. The complaint says he was ordered to leave but returned.

Weiss is charged with drunken driving, driving with an open beer can, driving around a barricade and trespassing. He's due in court April 5.