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 transportation improvement plan for 2026–2029 released for public review

Bismarck welcomes new class of Citizen Academy cadets for fifth year of program

Bismarck Police Department thanks local businesses and court for law enforcement appreciation

Man who became upset with his pregnant 17-year-old girIfriend and tried to kiII her after Iuring her for a walk because the expectant mother contacted his other girIfriend to teII her about their reIationship and posted about their baby on sociaI media, is sentenced

Man, who was Ieft in the care of his girIfriend’s 6-month-old baby, cIaims he gave the chiId to eat and put him to sIeep, only to find him unresponsive after the chiId was found with multiple brain bIeeds and a broken coIIarbone, later dying from his injuries: DA

Bismarck recognizes city employee for innovative contributions to water and sewer projects

Follow us on News Break

Categories

Very strong winds fan flames of fires across state

Related posts

Report shows Minot home values rise

ND-based Farm Rescue is showcased on BYUtv show

Accidental shooting reported in Minot, one person injured

Bismarck Police Department celebrates officer’s birthday with humor and well-wishes

Man Found Dead After Fire in Glen Ullin

Bismarck Police Department shares Christmas giving tree with community

Follow us on Google News

Follow us on Flipboard

North Dakota transportation improvement plan for 2026–2029 released for public review

Bismarck welcomes new class of Citizen Academy cadets for fifth year of program

Bismarck Police Department thanks local businesses and court for law enforcement appreciation

Man who became upset with his pregnant 17-year-old girIfriend and tried to kiII her after Iuring her for a walk because the expectant mother contacted his other girIfriend to teII her about their reIationship and posted about their baby on sociaI media, is sentenced

Man, who was Ieft in the care of his girIfriend’s 6-month-old baby, cIaims he gave the chiId to eat and put him to sIeep, only to find him unresponsive after the chiId was found with multiple brain bIeeds and a broken coIIarbone, later dying from his injuries: DA

Bismarck recognizes city employee for innovative contributions to water and sewer projects