Fall weather brings high fire danger for rural North Dakota

WEST FARGO — Even with temperatures falling in North Dakota, the danger for harmful fires continues to be excessive.

Whereas fires could also be one of many final issues on North Dakotan’s minds when the temperatures start to drop, West Fargo Hearth Chief Dan Fuller says that is really the most typical time of the 12 months the place hearth hazard is definitely the best. 

That’s very true for locations in rural North Dakota. 

Fuller says one of many main causes of fires this time of 12 months is from equipment utilized by farmers through the harvest seasons.  

“That equipment — particularly if they’re doing something with oil within the equipment. It’s dry, there may be mud all over the place. The likelihood for a fireplace to begin that approach is extraordinarily excessive proper now,” Fuller stated.

On Thursday, Oct. 13, a red-flag warning lined many of the state, besides the northeast nook. It funnels down into South Dakota and reached so far as Oklahoma.

Fuller says this time of the 12 months is ideal for damaging fires to begin as a result of laborious freeze, which dries out the grass, and the excessive winds selecting up once more.

That permits the grass areas to begin on hearth quick and unfold even sooner. 

“Even if you happen to dwell and work within the metropolis, however you may drive alongside the interstate, the potential of one thing occurring like disposing a cigarette out the window can begin a fireplace within the ditch. That might take off on a day like at present,” Fuller stated. “So everybody ought to find out about it, however it’s actually distinguished out within the rural areas.”

Fuller encourages farmers to be cautious of the fireplace index on daily basis earlier than going out into the sector. He says there might be a excessive hearth threat in North Dakota till we lastly get some snow on the bottom.