Wildfire Protection

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With a dispersed rural population that lives in and around a fire-dependent ecosystem, North Dakota relies heavily upon rural fire departments and local government for wildfire protection and control. Across the state, 388 fire departments have primary protection authority on approximately 31 million acres, or roughly 70 percent of the land area in North Dakota. The North Dakota Forest Service maintains Cooperative Fire Protection Agreements with 384 of these departments.

The organization of wildfire suppression and control has worked well in North Dakota. Of all the wildfires that occur, 83% are controlled during the initial attack phase. The average size of fires that are caught early is 1.6 acres, which presents minimal danger to people, property and natural resources. However, if the wildfire escapes initial attack, it is likely to grow to 400 acres, which constitutes a substantially higher threat to North Dakotans.

Fire Danger

In North Dakota, it is common practice during spring and fall to burn fields, trees and debris in agricultural and rural settings. Outdoor enthusiasts build campfires during camping seasons. Equipment operators increase activities during warmer months. Inadequate precautions and burning during high fire danger conditions cause the majority of fires that grow out of control and threaten people, wildlife, and property.

The North Dakota Rural Fire Danger Guide is designed for landowners, equipment operators and outdoor enthusiasts, and outlines procedures that, if followed, will greatly reduce the chance of rural fires becoming wildfires. The Guide is based on the Rangeland Fire Danger Index issued by the National Weather Service (N W S)and provides and indication of rural fire potential throughout the state. The N W S divides the state into nine zones and uses predicted values for temperature, humidity, wind speed, cloud cover and vegetative greenness to calculate the index for a given day.

The index contains five ratings: low, medium, high, very high and extreme. Fires are more likely to occur on higher index days, and fires that occur on those days are more likely to be difficult to control and grow large.

Low - Weather and fuel indicators show probability of fire occurrence is low.

Medium - Some potential for fire occurrence.  Expect predictable fire behavior with moderate rates of spread.

High - Fires are active. Expect moderate and occasional high rates of spread.

Very High - Fires spread rapidly and show erratic behavior. Dangerous burning conditions.

Extreme - Potential for large fires.  Fires spread rapidly and extreme fire behavior is probable.  Critical burning conditions.

The National Weather Service (N W S) issues the North Dakota Rangeland Fire Danger Statement each morning from April 1 to October 31.  Information on the current fire danger index is available through County Sheriff's offices or the N W S web site at http://www.crh.noaa.gov/bis (Look under Fire Weather).

For additional information, see these web sites:

North Dakota Department of Emergency Services http://www.nd.gov/des/info/firedanger.html

Fire Weather - National Weather Service Forecast Center web site: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/bis/fire.php

For more information contact Geremy Olson at (701) 328-9990 or email Geremy.Olson@ndsu.edu