News

BISMARCK, N.D. – As families prepare to enjoy North Dakota’s outdoor destinations over the Labor Day weekend, residents and visitors are encouraged to recreate responsibly by practicing fire safety. While recent moisture has provided some relief from fire starts over the past few weeks, dry conditions still persist in many areas of the state with 100 percent of North Dakota experiencing severe drought conditions.

BISMARCK, N.D. – A group of North Dakota firefighters will be traveling to Louisiana this week to assist with recovery efforts from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Ida. Gov. Doug Burgum has approved an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), allowing a 6-person team from the Bismarck Rural and Williston Fire Departments to deploy equipment and personnel for operations along the Gulf Coast.

BISMARCK, N.D. – As hot weather and dry conditions have provided ample fuels for an active wildfire season, the North Dakota Forest Service and North Dakota Department of Emergency Services recently initiated a program to augment the state’s firefighting capabilities and resources.

According to data collected by the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services and North Dakota Forest Service, nearly 1,400 fires have scorched more than 100,000 acres across the state since January 2021.

BISMARCK, N.D. – After working together with Homeland Security officials from across the nation over the last 18 months, Darin Hanson, of Mandan, North Dakota, in January earned his master’s degree in Security Studies at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS). Hanson serves as the Critical Infrastructure and Program and security manager for the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services (NDDES).

As extreme drought conditions continue to spread across North Dakota, Gov. Doug Burgum today placed the North Dakota National Guard on standby to provide help if additional resources are needed to respond to a growing number of wildfires.

Gov. Doug Burgum today declared a statewide wildfire emergency, enabling the North Dakota National Guard to deploy two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to help fight a Billings County wildfire that has prompted the evacuation of the city of Medora.

The North Dakota Department of Emergency Services today requested a temporary flight restriction from the Federal Aviation Administration as local, state and federal agencies work to contain a wildfire in the vicinity of Medora, North Dakota.

FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota Department of Emergency Services welcomed its newest team member in January through collaboration with North Dakota State University’s Department of Emergency Management. Marcus Rehder was recently hired to work for the agency as a planning specialist, while completing his bachelor’s degree in emergency management.

Gov. Doug Burgum today announced the completion of a new streamlined system that will provide a one-stop shop for energy industry producers, transporters and developers, as well as the public, to report hazardous material spills and releases.