Image courtesy of North Dakota Game and Fish Department
PAYTON GALL, KSJB LOCAL NEWS –
The cause of the October 6th wildfire near Ray & Tioga has been revealed by investigators.
A final report from the North Dakota State Fire Marshal’s Office revealed that a tree hitting a powerline caused the October 6th fire that burned 30,549 acres between Ray and Tioga, killing two people. High winds up to 60 miles per hour dislodged the tree, causing it to break the powerline and ignite dry grass. This was one of two major fires that day, which together burned nearly 90,000 acres.
The cause of the second fire, near Williston, is still under investigation. Both fires crossed U.S. Highway 2, briefly trapping residents of Ray. Other large fires that weekend, near Mandaree and Watford City, also burned thousands of acres, but their causes are still being determined.
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