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Fire Management |
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The authority for coordinating state and local wildland fire protection
in North Dakota lies with the State Forester. Under North Dakota Century
Code 18-02-07, the State Forester may cooperate and contract with fire
departments, local, state, and federal governments, or with individuals
to provide wildfire protection for the citizens of North Dakota. This
includes applying for, receiving, and expending grants-in-aid, and acquiring
fire protection equipment to loan or sell to Rural Fire Departments.
Many of these duties are delegated to the Fire Management Coordination
Area. |
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The Fire Management Coordination Area is comprised of a Fire
Management Coordinator, a Fire Management Specialist, a Fire Planning and
Prevention Specialist, and an F E P P Technician. Emergency firefighters
are hired on an as-needed basis to support major fire incidents. The F
E P P Technician manages all aspects of the Federal Excess Personal Property
Program. Fire Department training and coordination are the primary responsibilities
of the Fire Management Specialist. The Fire Planning and Prevention Specialist
provides technical assistance to local governments in fire response and
mitigation planning, as well as directing statewide wildland fire awareness
and prevention efforts. Overall the Coordinator provides program direction
and administration. |
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Fire Management Personnel |
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Tom Claeys
Forestry and Fire Management Assistance Team Leader
916 East Interstate Ave. Suite #4, Bismarck, ND 58503-0560
Phone # (701) 328-9945 - Fax # (701) 328-9947
e-mail: Thomas.Claeys@ndsu.edu.
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David Geyer -
Fire Management Coordinator
916 East Interstate Ave. Suite #4, Bismarck, ND 58503
Phone # (701) 328-9985 - Fax # (701) 328-9947
e-mail: David.Geyer@ndsu.edu
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Faron L. Krueger - Fire Management
Specialist
916 East Interstate Ave. Suite #4, Bismarck, ND
58503
Phone # (701) 328-9946 • Fax # (701) 328-9947
e-mail: Faron.Krueger@ndsu.edu
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Geremy Olson - Fire
Planning and Prevention Specialist
916 East Interstate Ave. Suite #4, Bismarck,
ND 58503
Phone # (701) 328-9990 • Fax # (701) 328-9947
e-mail Geremy.Olson@ndsu.edu
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John Christianson - Forest
Technician (Federal Excess Personal Property - FEPP)
1037 Forestry Drive Bottineau, ND 58318
Phone # (701) 228-3700 - Fax # (701) 228-5111 e-mail: John.Christianson@ndsu.edu |
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A Brief History of Wildfire in North Dakota |
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Wildfire has always been common and widespread in North Dakota. Travelers,
settlers and explorers, including Lewis and Clark, documented huge fires
on the horizon, the constant smell and pall of smoke in the air, and miles
of blackened prairie. Studies indicate that wildfires occurred in the same
locales every three to four years, with larger conflagrations taking place
on a 10 to 30 year sequence. Today's wildfires follow similar cycles,
with larger fires frequently coinciding with drought years. |
Prairie Fire in 2002 known as the Kraft Complex |
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Prior to settlement, the majority of fires were started by Native Americans
to drive game, provide horses and wildlife with succulent and nutritious
new vegetation, conduct warfare against enemies, and protect themselves
from attack. Lightning also started many fires. As settlers arrived during
the late 1800s, plowing, planting, and grazing gradually broke up the vast
grasslands. The occurrence of fire most likely increased, but the size
of the wildfires decreased as the landscape became fragmented.
Despite the conversion of much of the indigenous prairie to non-native
grasses and crops, the majority of the state's fuels are still highly
combustible, light fuels that burn readily and rapidly given the right
environmental conditions. The western part of the state still contains
large unbroken acreage of native mixed grasses. The highly successful Conservation
Reserve Program (C R P) has enabled North Dakotans to enroll nearly 3 million
acres of land in highly flammable native vegetation. Uncontrolled wildfire
still remains a threat to North Dakota's people, property, and natural
resources.
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