NEW ULM - New Ulm fire fighters answered two calls on Thursday.

Nobody was injured in either fire.

A grain bin fire was reported at 7:30 a.m. at the Rachel Mangen farm, 18610 County Road 27.

Aided by a front-end loader from Hoffman Construction and a backhoe from M R Paving, fire fighters dismantled a fully-loaded, 8,000-bushel bin and battled the blaze until 3:30 p.m.

"We couldn't have spread out the corn without the loaned equipment," said Second Assistant Fire Chief Tom Romaine.

The corn and the bin, rented to Mike Reinhart, were destroyed.

Fire fighters were called to the Margaret Johnson home, 618 N. Payne at 4:25 p.m. They left about 20 minutes later.

A small fire was caused by smoking materials that were placed in a flower pot with peat dirt in it that was placed on a counter top on the second floor of the house.

There was smoke damage to the home.

"This is the second fire of this type, this year." added Romaine. "Smoke detectors alerted the occupants."

Romaine said people should beware that this type of fire can smolder for a long time, then re-ignite.