Very strong winds fan flames of fires across state

MINOT, N.D. – Very strong winds and very dry conditions create ideal conditions for wildfires. Minot and other places in North Dakota experienced both Monday evening.

About 8:50 p.m. crews from three of Minot’s four fire stations responded to a fire south of the Minot Airport. Winds at the time were gusting around 60 miles per hour and flames were spreading rapidly. An immediate concern of firefighters was that the fire was in close proximity to several homes on the edge of the city.

“We attacked the fire near the homes first and then mopped it up,” said Jason Babinchack, Minot Fire Department battalion chief. “It was sparking electrical lines that caused the fire.”

No homes were damaged but a few acres of grassland were burned. The fire, other than a few flare-ups due to the high winds, was out about 9:15 p.m.

Other fires in the state Monday included a 500 acre blaze north of Richardton and one that burned on a nearly four-mile front on the Spirit Lake Reservation near Devils Lake that caused the evacuation of several homes. Residents were allowed to return to their homes about 1 a.m. Tuesday. Both fires were contained without any injuries reported.

In neighboring South Dakota the Mount Rushmore National Memorial was forced to close due to a wildland fire that spread onto the memorial grounds. Another fire of note was located near Crookston, Minn., where it was reported that aerial tankers were used to help contain a rapidly growing blaze.

The National Weather Service had issued a Red Flag Warning for much of North Dakota Monday and continued the warning for a large portion of southwest North Dakota Tuesday. Virtually all of the remainder of the state was under a Wind Advisory through Tuesday evening due to relative humidity as low as 20% and winds predicted to gust up to 45 mph.

Peak wind gusts reported in the state Monday included 79 mph near Mott, 70 mph at Williston, 69 at Dickinson, 63 mph at Minot and Bismarck, 58 mph at Tioga, Stanley, Garrison and Hazen, and 56 mph at Rugby.

Very strong winds fan flames of fires across state

Follow us on Google News

Follow us on Flipboard

Trending Slider

North Dakota Gov. Armstrong announces new leader for North Dakota’s largest agency, set to take over Aug. 29

North Dakota lifts TikTok ban on state-owned devices imposed over national security concerns, Gov. Armstrong says app is now majority-owned by an American-led consortium

North Dakota Sen. Cramer honors oldest “Rosie the Riveter” after delivering her handmade quilts to Trump and Vance and returning with a personal gift

Tyler Parkway construction reaches major milestone as Bismarck officials provide new update

Sen. Cramer backs bill to close loophole that allows illegal immigrants to be released when their countries refuse to take them back, says they should remain in custody until deported

Bismarck reopens all Main Ave lanes after downtown road construction ahead of schedule

Follow us on News Break

Categories

Very strong winds fan flames of fires across state

Related posts

Bismarck Police Department reminds public of city ordinance prohibiting camping on public property

Bismarck seeks public input for 2026 sidewalk gaps project

BFD crews respond after commercial truck crashes into home, causing significant structural damage

Week of fundraisers to benefit Roger Maris Cancer Center, community causes

Man arrested after bomb threat at downtown Bismarck bank prompts evacuation and SWAT response

Bismarck City Offices and Landfill closed on April 18 for Good Friday holiday

Follow us on Google News

Follow us on Flipboard

North Dakota Gov. Armstrong announces new leader for North Dakota’s largest agency, set to take over Aug. 29

North Dakota lifts TikTok ban on state-owned devices imposed over national security concerns, Gov. Armstrong says app is now majority-owned by an American-led consortium

North Dakota Sen. Cramer honors oldest “Rosie the Riveter” after delivering her handmade quilts to Trump and Vance and returning with a personal gift

Tyler Parkway construction reaches major milestone as Bismarck officials provide new update

Sen. Cramer backs bill to close loophole that allows illegal immigrants to be released when their countries refuse to take them back, says they should remain in custody until deported

Bismarck reopens all Main Ave lanes after downtown road construction ahead of schedule