By Scout Nelson
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum has requested a presidential disaster declaration to aid recovery from the historic wildfires that swept through northwest North Dakota in early October. The fires caused damage exceeding $8 million, prompting a statewide fire emergency declared on October 3.
The disaster request covers McKenzie and Williams counties, where damages met the public assistance threshold due to severe infrastructure losses. Rural electrical cooperatives in these areas faced $3.7 million in damage, with power outages affecting 50 residences for days and requiring the replacement of hundreds of utility poles.
Wildfire damage extended beyond public infrastructure to agriculture. Losses included 270 livestock mortalities, 14,000 acres of pastureland, 19,000 acres of cropland, and significant damage to haybales, shelterbelts, and fencing. Dr. Miranda Meehan from NDSU Extension noted, “It takes decades to build up genetics within beef cattle herds, and in a matter of hours, those animals and their future generations were lost.”
The fires also destroyed or damaged private agricultural infrastructure, including buildings, water tanks, grain storage, and machinery. The long-term effects include soil erosion, reduced grassland production, and limited grazing capacity for years to come.
North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring emphasized the extensive recovery needed, stating, “Affected producers must now start the slow process of rebuilding and we are committed to supporting those efforts.”
Residents affected by the wildfires can access financial, mental, and physical recovery resources through the state’s wildfire recovery website. These efforts aim to help communities recover and rebuild after the devastation caused by the fires.
Photo Credit:pexels-islandhopper
Categories: North Dakota, General