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

NDHP K9 helps locate wanted individual near Elgin

Grain truck rollover temporarily closed lanes near Broadway Bridge in Minot

Lane reductions begin at Washington Street and Front Avenue/Memorial Highway intersection September 4

Bismarck Police report Day 1 results of Battle of the Badges Blood Drive

NDDOT to begin fall mowing operations along state highways in September

Motorcycle crash in Bismarck sends 28-year-old rider to hospital with serious injuries

Follow us on News Break

Categories

Very strong winds fan flames of fires across state

Related posts

Three new officers sworn in at Bismarck Police Department

National car shortage impacts North Dakota dealerships

Fireworks on New Year’s Eve Pose Mental Health Risks for Some North Dakotans

ND Department of Transportation to close ramps temporarily on I-94 for maintenance

The City of Minot is ending the week-long mandatory water restriction on outdoor water use

Bismarck recycling program sponsors Keep North Dakota Clean artwork and media contest, reminds students this is the last week to submit entries

Follow us on Google News

Follow us on Flipboard

NDHP K9 helps locate wanted individual near Elgin

Grain truck rollover temporarily closed lanes near Broadway Bridge in Minot

Lane reductions begin at Washington Street and Front Avenue/Memorial Highway intersection September 4

Bismarck Police report Day 1 results of Battle of the Badges Blood Drive

NDDOT to begin fall mowing operations along state highways in September

Motorcycle crash in Bismarck sends 28-year-old rider to hospital with serious injuries