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 opens $70 million state laboratory to strengthen disease detection and environmental monitoring

Bismarck police thank community after Trunk or Treat event draws families and delivers 30,000 pieces of candy

Bismarck invites residents to weigh in on indoor recreation and sports facility plans at October 28 public meetings

Bismarck shares Tyler Parkway construction update as crews target October completion for major work and vandalism causes tens of thousands in damage

Bismarck moves forward with $6.5 million Fire Station 6 in south Bismarck to improve emergency response times

North Dakota Highway Patrol responds after semi hauling anhydrous ammonia rolls over near Devils Lake

Follow us on News Break

Categories

Very strong winds fan flames of fires across state

Related posts

Bismarck Police Department announces archery proficiency testing for city hunting program

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

Bismarck Police Department reminds citizens about citizen police academy application deadline

Bismarck Police Department honors lieutenant retiring after 29 years of service

Shed fire damages two homes in Minot

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

Follow us on Google News

Follow us on Flipboard

North Dakota opens $70 million state laboratory to strengthen disease detection and environmental monitoring

Bismarck police thank community after Trunk or Treat event draws families and delivers 30,000 pieces of candy

Bismarck invites residents to weigh in on indoor recreation and sports facility plans at October 28 public meetings

Bismarck shares Tyler Parkway construction update as crews target October completion for major work and vandalism causes tens of thousands in damage

Bismarck moves forward with $6.5 million Fire Station 6 in south Bismarck to improve emergency response times

North Dakota Highway Patrol responds after semi hauling anhydrous ammonia rolls over near Devils Lake