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

Vehicle collides with train in Richland County, driver uninjured

Bismarck fire department responds to early morning structure fire at 400 West Avenue C, no injuries reported

Bismarck Citizen Academy visits airport to learn about operations

North Dakota Highway Patrol honors bloodhound program volunteer with Colonel’s Award

Bismarck seeks public input for 2026 sidewalk gaps project

Bismarck Historical Society hosts program on memoir of prison warden

Follow us on News Break

Categories

Very strong winds fan flames of fires across state

Related posts

Grass fires prompt temporary closure of Highway 1804 south of Bismarck

Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo detail plans for curbside cleanup weeks

Downtown Minot businesses see uptick in sales over holiday weekend

North Dakota scientist from Nebraska focuses on insects, crop diseases

Minot Association of Builders encouraging students to enter trade work through scholarship

Woman who survived bitter cold nights in park testifies in Lone Fight trial

Follow us on Google News

Follow us on Flipboard

Vehicle collides with train in Richland County, driver uninjured

Bismarck fire department responds to early morning structure fire at 400 West Avenue C, no injuries reported

Bismarck Citizen Academy visits airport to learn about operations

North Dakota Highway Patrol honors bloodhound program volunteer with Colonel’s Award

Bismarck seeks public input for 2026 sidewalk gaps project

Bismarck Historical Society hosts program on memoir of prison warden