Area fire and rescue teams respond to two grass fires in McKenzie County
Patrice Bumstead
Farmer Editor
Last Thursday, Keene Volunteer Fire and Rescue responded to a grass fire that started approximately three miles north of Watford City. With wind gusts up to 35 miles per hour, the fire was able to burn an estimated 2,200 acres.
Watford City Volunteer Fire Department Chief Dave Uhlich, told The Farmer that the teamwork from multiple agencies, including the McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office, McKenzie County Road and Bridge Department, along with mutual aid from Arnegard, Alexander and Dunn fire departments makes all the difference in fighting large fires.
“The County helped with water and blades and the sheriff deputies performed traffic control to keep the public safe as well as helping to coordinate other resources. We greatly appreciated the assistance,” said Uhlich.
Uhlich said a second fire broke out near the river bottom approximately five miles north of the first fire. Once fire fighters had the original fire under control, Uhlich was able to send some guys to assess the new fire.
Because of the difficult terrain at the second location, the State Emergency Operations Center dispatched state resources to join the fight, including engines and crews from the North Dakota Forest Service and a Black Hawk aerial crew from the North Dakota National Guard.
The National Guard launched a Black Hawk helicopter that was able to successfully dip water out of the Missouri River from the Lake Sakakawea area, and dropped approximately 24,000 gallons of water on the fire over the span of three hours.
The North Dakota Highway Patrol provided aerial imagery of the fires in advance of the helicopter’s arrival to increase situational awareness and scoping of the fires.
The North Dakota Forest service sent three engines and one UTV along with crews to fight the fires on the ground. Two North Dakota Forest Service engines continued operations through the night to monitor.
Ten structures were threatened and some citizens were evacuated from homes.
“The fires got close to structures, but the guys were able to put those out,” said Uhlich.
In total, the two fires burned over 3,000 acres in McKenzie County.
State data reports 92 fires have burned a total of 8,400 acres since Governor Kelly Armstrong signed a Fire Emergency Declaration on March 10.
Lack of precipitation has caused an extended drought throughout the state.
“The ground is just tinder waiting to be ignited,” explained Uhlich.
The Fire Emergency Declaration gives authority for state agencies to be ready, pre-position, and respond rapidly in these dynamic fire conditions that exist across the state. The North Dakota Department of Emergency Services hosts a twice-a-week Fire Readiness Level call that includes all necessary agencies as part of the State Emergency Operations Plan.
The Fire Emergency is effective through May 31, unless extended. Officials warn that we remain in this statewide wildland fire threat until green-up.
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