One lane of Interstate 35 was closed Friday afternoon after a reported grass fire burning near Walmart in Albert Lea.

The fire started in an open area in the mile between Exit 11 and Exit 12 of Interstate 35. Winds pushed the blaze westward toward Walmart.

Albert Lea FIre Capt. Scott Hanna said firefighters from Albert Lea, Albert Lea Township, Hayward and Clarks Grove departments responded because the fire was in a hard-to-reach area. However, the fire was quickly extinguished.