KNBN NewsCenter1
April 12, 2021
THEODORE ROOSEVELT NATIONAL PARK, N.D. The National Park Service says that the Horse Pasture Fire, which has been burning in the North Unit at Teddy Roosevelt National Park since Saturday, April 3, is at 95% containment as of Monday afternoon. The fire is currently mapped at 5,000 acres.
The fire burned lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, State of North Dakota, and some private lands. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The development of winter weather conditions over the past 24 hours have given fire crews an advantage. Firefighters and engines are still assigned to the Horse Pasture Fire and will continue to patrol and monitor for the foreseeable future.
The fire, currently mapped at 5,000 acres, is now
95% contained.
“The weather is certainly giving firefighters a little extra assistance in suppressing the fire; It is a welcome addition to the firefighting effort,” said
Lucas Graf, District Ranger for the McKenzie Ranger District of the Little Missouri National Grassland. Prior to this weekend’s wintery rain and snow mix, firefighters had reached 90% containment on the fire.
Graf added, “We couldn’t have gotten here without the help of local volunteers, VFDs, and first responders. The weather conditions and fire activity on the [April] 3
rd posed a real challenge to those folks, and they did an amazing job of holding the fire, particularly the finger on the northwest side, until air support and additional ground resources could arrive. This cold and wet weather is increasing our confidence in the containment lines established over the past week. We are also grateful for all the food and medical supply donation
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WATFORD CITY Just inside the entrance to the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, two bison were keeping an eye on some of the people working to contain a sprawling wildfire that ignited over the weekend.
The animals were lying in the grass across from stacks of blue and orange Gatorade set aside for those responding to the fire Wednesday, and park staff were monitoring them while describing their efforts to control the flames.
The 5,000-acre Horse Pasture Fire was 50% controlled Wednesday. Lighter winds have helped crews battling the blaze, according to Beth Hill, acting outreach and education manager for the North Dakota Forest Service.
A wildfire blazing in the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park has grown to nearly 8 square miles, but fire crews have made progress on boxing it in and protecting threatened structures.
The Horse Pasture Fire on Tuesday was estimated at 5,000 acres and 45% contained, according to Beth Hill, acting outreach and education manager for the North Dakota Forest Service. The cause was still under investigation, though authorities think it likely was caused by a person.
Fire crews have used back-burning eliminating vegetation with controlled burns to create a fire perimeter roughly on the east, north and south sides of the park area, and they were working on the western flank Tuesday, according to Park Superintendent Wendy Ross.