{"id":287519,"date":"2024-10-08T08:31:02","date_gmt":"2024-10-08T13:31:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/?p=287519"},"modified":"2024-10-14T08:20:27","modified_gmt":"2024-10-14T13:20:27","slug":"burgum-surveys-damage-thanks-crews-fighting-wildfires","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/?p=287519","title":{"rendered":"Burgum Surveys Wildfires Damage, Thanks Crews"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

BISMARCK, N.D. <\/strong>\u2013 Gov. Doug Burgum and fellow state officials surveyed several large wildfires still burning in western North Dakota today, meeting with firefighters, emergency managers and other local officials in Tioga and Watford City to thank them for their efforts to protect lives and property and urging continued vigilance as dry conditions persist and the wildfire risk remains high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPart of what makes North Dakota special is the strong collaboration between agencies and communities at all levels, neighbors helping neighbors, and that\u2019s been on full display during these incredibly challenging wildfires,\u201d Burgum said. \u201cLocal firefighters, first responders, farmers and ranchers have fought alongside state, tribal and federal resources against incredible odds to literally save entire communities, and we are deeply grateful for their tireless efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After an aerial tour of wildfires in the Mandaree and Ray areas with the North Dakota National Guard\u2019s adjutant general, Brig. Gen. Mitch Johnson, Burgum and state Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread and state Fire Marshal Doug Nelson met in Tioga with firefighters from Tioga, Ray, Williston, Epping, Trenton, Grenora and Alamo, along with emergency management personnel, county commissioners, farmers and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The governor also surveyed the Elkhorn fire near Grassy Butte \u2013 which covered 28,400 acres as of Monday morning \u2013 and held a press conference at the McKenzie County Courthouse in Watford City with Johnson, Goehring, Godfread, State Forester Tom Claeys, North Dakota Forest Service Fire Management Office Ryan Melin, McKenzie County Emergency Manager Karolin Jappe and other officials.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a marathon, not a sprint,\u201d Burgum said, noting the extremely dry conditions, lack of rain in the forecast and potential for increased winds. \u201cWe could be at this a while, so we\u2019re going to maintain all of the work we\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two North Dakota National Guard Black Hawk helicopters used water buckets to make 59 water drops totaling 39,000 pounds of water scooped out of Lake Sakakawea and other sources on Sunday, and a third Black Hawk was added to Monday\u2019s operations. The Guard also has 27 firefighters who are expected to continue working the fires through this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEmergency Services has gone from the initial spin-up to more of a sustained operation,\u201d Brig. Gen. Johnson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Claeys, the state forester, reiterated the need for continued vigilance by citizens, adding the state will be increasing its messaging to emphasize the importance of fire prevention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEvery fire that doesn\u2019t start is one we don\u2019t have to fight,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dry air with less than 20% relative humidity and dried vegetation providing plenty of fuel means the state must already start preparing for the next round of fires, Melin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe know that we\u2019re probably here until it snows,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goehring announced that the Department of Agriculture has activated its Hay Hotline<\/a> at (701) 328-5110 to provide relief to ranchers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s some people that lost almost everything, and many that lost a lot, so let\u2019s not forget about them,\u201d he said. \u201cRight now, we are asking for those that have a need to give us a call.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Godfread and Nelson offered guidance<\/a> for residents impacted by the weekend fires, urging residents to survey and take inventory of their property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you have suffered property loss, if you\u2019ve suffered any kind of property damage, the big key point right now is to document it, document it, document it,\u201d Godfread said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least four residences were reported to be destroyed by fire, along with numerous outbuildings. Citing the widespread damage to pastures, farmland, equipment, fencing and buildings, state Sen. Dale Patten of Watford City said, \u201cThe scale of the impact is going to be huge, and it is going to take some time to get that all put together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The state will be assessing damage to public and private\/nonprofit infrastructure once the fires are extinguished and damaged areas can be accessed. The current state-level threshold to request a presidential disaster declaration for North Dakota is $1,472,488, and if there are enough qualifying damages, the state will likely move forward with a disaster declaration. Damage assessments will be conducted over the next few weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following is the status of the largest fires as of 2:09 p.m. today:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elkhorn Fire near Grassy Butte<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Size: estimated 28,434<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contained: 20% contained<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Response: McKenzie County, Dunn County, North Dakota Forest Service, U.S. Forest Service, North Dakota National Guard Black Hawks, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico Initial Attack, North Dakota Highway Patrol<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Injuries: None reported<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Damage: Outbuilding lost, no primary structures reported lost<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bear Den Fire near Mandaree<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Size: estimated 11,746 acres<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contained: 0% contained<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Response: Three Affiliated Tribes, U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, North Dakota Forest Service, Department of Emergency Services engine and two firefighters, Large Airtankers from Montana, North Dakota National Guard Red Card, North Dakota Highway Patrol<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Injuries: none reported<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Damage: reported two primary residences lost and numerous outbuildings lost<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ray \/ Alamo & Tioga Fires in Williams County<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Size: Began as two fires merged into one, size unknown<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contained: 90% contained, actively fighting flare-ups<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Response: Williams County, Ward County, Divide County, Burke County, North Dakota Highway Patrol flight<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Injuries: One fatality and one individual in critical condition<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Damage: Downed power lines, damages being assessed. 373 without power<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arnegard Fire near Arnegard<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Size: estimated 561 acres<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contained: 100% contained, determined extinguished at 7 a.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Response: McKenzie County, Williams County, Highway Patrol<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Injuries: none reported<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Damage: outbuildings and vehicles<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Garrison Fire near Emmet<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Size: Estimated 830 acres<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contained: 100% contained, watching for hotspots. Was stopped 1 mile from Garrison<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Response: Fort Berthold, McLean County, Mountrail County, North Dakota Forest Service<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Injuries: none reported<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Damage: none reported<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Charlson Fire near Charlson<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Size: estimated 2 miles wide<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contained: 100% contained, determined extinguished 2 a.m. today<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Response: Three Affiliated Tribes, McKenzie County, North Dakota Forest Service, Highway Patrol<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Injuries: none reported<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Damage: power lines down, no additional damages reported<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information about current burn restrictions and fire danger maps, visit ndresponse.gov\/burn<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BISMARCK, N.D. \u2013 Gov. Doug Burgum and fellow state officials surveyed several large wildfires still burning in western North Dakota today, meeting with firefighters, emergency managers and other local officials in Tioga and Watford City to thank them for their efforts to protect lives and property and urging continued vigilance […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":287520,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-287519","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/287519","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=287519"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/287519\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":287650,"href":"http:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/287519\/revisions\/287650"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/287520"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=287519"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=287519"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=287519"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}