BISMARCK, N.D. – Governor Kelly Armstrong declares a statewide fire emergency due to ongoing drought conditions across the state.
“In just a few months we’ve seen ground conditions shift from lush green to tinder dry across large portions of our state, and we need to be prepared for a potentially intense wildfire season this fall,” Armstrong said. “State government is committed to deploying all resources at our disposal to protect life and property in cooperation with our local, tribal and federal partners. We encourage citizens to keep updated on fire conditions and take precautions to prevent wildfires as we face these challenging conditions together.”
The declaration also activates the state’s Emergency Operations Plan and directs all state agencies, including the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services, North Dakota Forest Service and North Dakota National Guard, to maintain high levels of readiness to combat fires.
The order is effective until Dec 1, unless extended.
The area of North Dakota experiencing drought conditions has jumped from less than two percent three months ago to over 56 percent in the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report released Thursday. Approximately 33 percent of the state is experiencing moderate drought and 23 percent is experiencing severe drought, while 36 percent is rated abnormally dry.
