Ferocious winds and dry conditions over the weekend have fueled raging wildfires across western North Dakota, resulting in one death and the evacuation of more than 100 residents.
Authorities warned that the region’s parched landscape is unlikely to see relief anytime soon.
As of Monday, six large wildfires were reported, with four nearly contained. State officials said that downed power lines most likely sparked some of the fires, which have spread across the vast oil fields, agricultural land, and rugged terrain of the state.
Johannes Nicolaas Van Eeden, a 26-year-old from South Africa, died in a large fire near Ray, as confirmed by the Williams County Sheriff’s Office. The specifics surrounding his death remain under investigation. Another person sustained critical injuries.
Wind gusts in western and central North Dakota reached speeds between 57 miles per hour and 75 miles per hour on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.
Staff Sgt. Samuel J. Kroll/U.S. Army National Guard via AP
Much of the region remains in varying stages of drought, compounding the challenges faced by firefighting teams.
The Elkhorn Fire near Grassy Butte has burned around 44 square miles and was reported to be 20 percent contained, while the Bear Den Fire near Mandaree remains raging, covering 18 square miles.
“We need to prepare for the long haul,” North Dakota Forest Service Fire Manager Ryan Melin said during a press conference in Watford City. “The reality is that we could be dealing with these conditions until it snows.”
Mike McCleary/Bismarck Tribune / AP
The weather forecast indicates that warm, dry conditions will persist at least until Thursday, with light winds until midweek. However, gusts could reach 30 miles per hour on Thursday, further complicating firefighting efforts.
The Bear Den Fire has already resulted in the destruction of at least two homes and several outbuildings. The extent of damage from other fires includes downed power lines and vehicles, although current evacuation orders have been lifted.
The full impact on livestock remains unclear, as farmers and ranchers are still assessing the damage. State Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said that it may take weeks or even months to fully understand the extent of the devastation.
Gov. Doug Burgum surveyed the affected areas and met with local officials on Monday, describing Saturday as potentially one of the worst fire days in North Dakota’s history in terms of land lost.
The North Dakota Forest Service reported 33 fires over the weekend, burning across 77 square miles, not including larger fires that merged into one still being assessed.
“Regrettably, we could be facing this situation for some time due to ongoing conditions,” Burgum said.
In the Arnegard area, the evacuation order impacted 80 to 100 residents after a 700-acre fire ignited from a downed power line.
Many oil companies in the area have temporarily ceased flaring natural gas during this dry spell, while Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative reported damage to 370 power poles, leaving 315 customers without electricity on Monday afternoon.
A concerted effort involving local, state, tribal, and federal agencies, along with support from National Guard firefighters and teams from Montana and New Mexico, continues to combat the ongoing wildfires.
This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press