Current:Home > FinanceWildfire fight continues in western North Dakota -Wealthify
Wildfire fight continues in western North Dakota
View
Date:2025-04-12 18:37:40
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Firefighters have a greater handle on two large wildfires burning in western North Dakota, some of several fires that took off in the high winds and dry conditions over the weekend, killing one man and evacuating hundreds of people from their homes.
As of 10:13 a.m. Tuesday, the 28,434-acre (11,507-hectare) Elkhorn Fire near Grassy Butte was 40% contained, and the 11,746-acre (4,753-hectare) Bear Den Fire near Mandaree was 30% contained, according to the state Department of Emergency Services.
No injuries have been reported in connection with the two fires. Two homes and numerous outbuildings have been lost. Both fires are burning in rugged Badlands terrain in North Dakota’s oilfield.
The two fires were some of six major wildfires from over the weekend in scattered areas of western North Dakota, where dry conditions and wind gusts up to nearly 80 mph (129 kph) spurred the flames. Officials believe downed power lines caused at least some of the fires.
The North Dakota Forest Service logged 33 reported fires over the weekend, amounting to 49,180 acres (19,902 hectares).
That figure does not include the large Ray, Tioga- and Alamo-area fires that merged into one. That fire’s burn perimeter is estimated at 88,000 acres (35,612 hectares), but there could be patches within that area that didn’t burn, a department spokesperson said. That fire is 99% contained. Flareups are still an issue.
Johannes Nicolaas Van Eeden, 26, of South Africa, died from critical injuries resulting from the Ray-area fire, and another person was critically injured, the Williams County Sheriff’s Office said Sunday morning.
More than 100 people evacuated from their homes in the Arnegard and Keene areas Saturday due to fires.
Livestock losses from the fires were not immediately clear. Hundreds of power poles were damaged. Segments of two highways temporarily closed.
Officials expect the fire danger conditions to continue this fall.
veryGood! (64183)
Related
- Rolling Loud 2024: Lineup, how to stream the world's largest hip hop music festival
- Claiborne ‘Buddy’ McDonald, a respected Mississippi judge and prosecutor, dies at 75
- Katt Williams accuses Cedric the Entertainer of stealing his 'best joke' from the '90s
- Federal appeals court denies effort to block state-run court in Mississippi’s majority-Black capital
- Michigan lawmaker who was arrested in June loses reelection bid in Republican primary
- New year, new quiz. Can you believe stuff has already happened in 2024?!
- Britney Spears says she will 'never return to the music industry' amid new album rumors
- Rage Against the Machine won't tour or perform live again, drummer Brad Wilk says
- Clay Aiken's son Parker, 15, makes his TV debut, looks like his father's twin
- Nordstrom Quietly Put Tons of SKIMS Styles on Sale Up to 50% Off— Here's What I’m Shopping
Ranking
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- Hershey sued for $5M over missing 'cute' face on Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkins
- Man says exploding toilet in Dunkin' left him covered in waste, debris. Now he's suing.
- ASOS Just Added Thousands of Styles to Their 80% Sale to Start Your New Year Off With a Bang
- Opinion: Gianni Infantino, FIFA sell souls and 2034 World Cup for Saudi Arabia's billions
- Make these 5 New Year's resolutions to avoid scams this year
- Parents of Cyprus school volleyball team players killed in Turkish quake testify against hotel owner
- 'Are you looking for an Uber?' Police arrest theft suspect who tried to escape via rideshare
Recommendation
Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
Germany’s government waters down a cost-cutting plan that infuriated the country’s farmers
Britney Spears shoots down album rumors, vowing to ‘never return to the music industry’
Jeffrey Epstein document release highlights his sprawling connections across states
Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
Watch Jeremy Allen White Strip Down to His Underwear in This Steamy Calvin Klein Video
'I'm gonna kill your children': South Florida man threatened U.S. Rep. and his family
New Mexico governor proposes 10% spending increase amid windfall from oil production