Edit: the release will continue to be updated as any additional information is received.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Mike Smith
Williams County/Williston Emergency Management
701-577-7707
mikesm@co.williams.nd.us
Williams County declares State of Emergency, details response to Ray area grass fires
WILLISTON, N.D. (October 8, 2024): The Williams County Board of County Commissioners has declared a local State of Emergency in response to the recent high winds and expansive grass fires in Williams County.
Estimates from satellite imagery and Civil Air Patrol flight observations show that approximately 88,934 acres burned across central and eastern Williams County between Saturday, October 5 and Sunday, October 6. An investigation into the start of the fires is ongoing.
The two largest fires each covered swaths of land approximately 20 miles in length, with the first burning from 12 miles north of the intersection of Highway 85 and Highway 2 (13 Mile Corner) southeast, just past the western extent of Ray. The second main fire began northwest of Ray and burned southeast, ending just south of Tioga. Both fires crossed extensive portions of Highway 2 as the area experienced sustained winds of 40 mph and gusts up to 73 mph. The majority of fires were contained by 3 am on Sunday, October 6. Hotspots and smaller fires continued to burn through Sunday, October 6 into Monday, October 7. Any new fire activity should be immediately reported to 9-1-1.
From mid-morning October 5 through Sunday, October 6, the Williams County Dispatch Center fielded a total of 636 calls for service, of which 182 were 9-1-1 emergencies and 454 were administrative. Incident Command from the Williams County Emergency Operation Center coordinated response efforts across more than 30 agencies from North Dakota and Montana. The majority of first responders were from volunteer-based agencies.
Williams County first responders included those from the Ray Fire Department, Ray Ambulance, Epping Fire Department, Alamo Fire Department, Grenora Fire Department, Tioga Rural Fire, Tioga Fire and Ambulance, Trenton Fire Department, Wildrose Fire Department, Williston Rural Fire, Williston Fire & EMS, ND Highway Patrol, Ray Police Department, Tioga Police Department, Williams County Sheriff’s Office, Williams County Dispatch Center, and Williams County/Williston Emergency Management.
Additional North Dakota agencies include Bowbells Fire Department, Burlington Fire Department, Columbus Fire Department, Crosby Fire Department, Kenmare Fire Department, Lignite Fire Department, Noonan Fire Department, Stanley Fire Department, Portal International Fire Department, Watford City Fire Department. Additional EMS units from the surrounding area provided patient transport as needed.
Responding agencies from Montana included Bainville Fire Department, Culbertson Fire Department, Froid Fire Department, Medicine Lake Fire Department, Plentywood Fire Department, and Westby Fire Department.
Local residents, the Williams County Highway Department, and the North Dakota Department of Transportation assisted with cutting fire lines in pastures and other open ground. Private industry was also critical to the response as entities contributed supplies, food, and most importantly, fire-fighting water.
Eight injuries were reported, resulting in two fatalities over the course of the two-day fire event period. There has been extensive damage to electrical infrastructure and significant loss to property. The North Dakota Highway Patrol and the Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, have both assisted with aircraft for spotting any residual fires and assessing damage. Williams County residents can also contribute to assessment efforts by reporting any livestock or structural damage or loss via the Williams County website: https://www.williamsnd.com/contact-emergency-management/. These reports will contribute to disaster reporting and help with updating property records.
Williams County/Williston Emergency Management would like to thank all first responders, community volunteers, hospital personnel, and the private industry entities that contributed to the fire response. A thank you is also extended to Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative as crews begin to restore power throughout eastern Williams County. It was a true community effort to achieve the most effective and efficient response in such harsh and unforgiving conditions.
An event of this magnitude can be overwhelming and difficult to cope with. Any individual who made need emotional support or someone to talk during this time to are encouraged to call or text 9-8-8. Those who may have lost personal belongings, livestock, or property and/or need assistance of any kind can find a list of wildfire recovery resources compiled by ND Response at https://ndresponse.gov/wildfire-recovery. As our community heals, please continue to check on your neighbors and loved ones.
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