Crews battle grass fires

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Crews have been battling grass fires around North Dakota as warm, dry conditions persist.

On Wednesday afternoon,  crews to continued to battle grass fires around North Dakota including one along Interstate 94 near Oriska reported early  Wednesday afternoon.

On Tuesday a grass fire was reported in the Courtenay area,  which burned a structure, (see photo) and Monday in the Montpelier area.

A fire north of Minot on Tuesday afternoon burned about 100 acres and came close to an uninhabited rural school.

Flames also crept dangerously close to some homes northeast of Bismarck on Tuesday, but none were damaged. In nearby Morton County, firefighters at the Tesoro oil refinery battled a blaze on refinery land. It didn’t threaten any infrastructure.

A wildfire in Oliver county scorched about 5,000 acres, or nearly 8 square miles.

No injuries were reported in any of the fires.

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for almost all of North Dakota, meaning conditions are ideal for wildfires.