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

Early bird registration open for 2026 North Dakota Transportation Conference

Gov. Armstrong launches legacy soil health and habitat program in North Dakota

North Dakota Highway Patrol warns of slick roads after snow and strong winds

Bismarck Citizen Academy cadets tour event center, explore behind-the-scenes operations

25-year-old man arrested, charged with murder following stabbing on Porter Avenue

19-year-old Iured a woman she considered a friend to a Iocation under the pretense of buying an animaI, where she and two men kiIIed her because they wanted to retaIiate for a kiIIing in another county invoIving the victim’s famiIy member: police

Follow us on News Break

Categories

Very strong winds fan flames of fires across state

Related posts

Ward County building connections for new hospital

Fargo Police Department hosts Cub Scout Pack 225 for a tour of the department

Fargo Police Department seeks public’s help in locating missing 12-year-old girl

Port: On oil and gas issues, Biden’s administration is only interested in listening to some American Indians

Bismarck diverts treated water to secondary drainage system during flood mitigation project near Tavis Road and the Missouri River

Country West Road to close between Clydesdale Drive and Ridge Place starting October 20

Follow us on Google News

Follow us on Flipboard

Early bird registration open for 2026 North Dakota Transportation Conference

Gov. Armstrong launches legacy soil health and habitat program in North Dakota

North Dakota Highway Patrol warns of slick roads after snow and strong winds

Bismarck Citizen Academy cadets tour event center, explore behind-the-scenes operations

25-year-old man arrested, charged with murder following stabbing on Porter Avenue

19-year-old Iured a woman she considered a friend to a Iocation under the pretense of buying an animaI, where she and two men kiIIed her because they wanted to retaIiate for a kiIIing in another county invoIving the victim’s famiIy member: police