UPDATE: New details emerging on responses to fires across western North Dakota

(KFYR) - Use the arrows to scroll through photos we have received of the fires in Williams, McKenzie, Dunn, McLean and McIntosh counties.

Continuing Coverage: State agencies coordinate with local, tribal and federal resources to fight widespread wildfires in western ND

UPDATE (10/6/24 at 8:45 a.m.):

We're learning more information about a fire near Arnegard Saturday.

Fire Chief Rick Schreiber said the fire burned 561 total acres, and was caused by downed power lines.

He said one structure was lost, including outbuildings and chicken coops, as well as three vehicles, including a semi and three semi trailers.

Schreiber said some houses sustained damage.

At one time there were eight fire departments involved in the response.

Schreiber said there were no fatalities or major injuries.

The fire was declared out as of 7 a.m. Sunday.

The Four Bears Segment of the Three Affiliated Tribes posted that, as of midnight, fires in the segment had been contained, and residents in evacuated areas could return to their homes. The Johnny Bird Memorial building would remain open for those in Mandaree impacted.

The McKenzie County Sheriff's Office posted shortly before midnight in an effort to dispel rumors of evacuations in Watford City. The MCSO said they were not evacuating Watford City, and at the time there were no concerns about safety in the city pertaining to the fires, though residents were at liberty to leave for the evening if they wished.

UPDATE (10/5/2024 at 9:42 p.m.): A fire that broke out near Garrison is now under control, according to McLean County Emergency Manager Noelle Kroll.

Kroll said the call came in around 11:45 a.m. Saturday for a fire that started about eight to ten miles west of Garrison and a couple of miles north. Kroll said the fire was under control around 8:20 p.m. Unofficially, roughly 830 acres were burned. No one was injured and the cause is still unknown.

UPDATE (10/5/2024 at 8:56 p.m.): A mandatory evacuation was issued for part of the west segment area of the Fort Berthold Reservation. The area impacted involves Highway 22 milepost 148 south to milepost 138 and one mile on both sides of the highway.

The MHA Emergency Operations Center says the fire started near the Bears Den area Saturday afternoon. It says this area does not include Mandaree proper itself but tells residents to take whatever precautions they deem necessary for their households. According to the MHA Emergency Operations Center, these are the preferred Fire Evacuation Locations in order:

Mandaree:

First Location: Water Chief Hall

Second Location: EMS/Fire Station, Point of Contact: Lisa DeVille (701-421-8020)

New Town:

First Location: Northern Lights Wellness Center, Point of Contact: Nathaniel Mayer (701-421-8219) or Jena Baker (701-421-6877). Pets are welcome on leash with strict supervision.

Second Location: Johnny Bird, Four Bears Village, Point of Contact: Kennedy Janis (701-421-2478) or Stacey Red Fox (701-421-8277). Pets are welcome on leash with strict supervision.

Horses: Healing Horse Ranch, Point of contact: Don Charging (701-315-0020). Horses can be put in the indoor arena.

UPDATE (10/5/2024 at 8:45 p.m.): Dunn County officials say four fires burned across the county Saturday. Emergency Manager Sarah Duttenhefner said one fire occurred south of Halliday, two more broke out to the north of Halliday and the fourth is the fire that spans from McKenzie County into Dunn County. She says the Halliday Fire Department has extinguished the three fires contained in Dunn County. She confirmed there were no known injuries. However, one of the fires damaged a water tank.

UPDATE (10/5/2024 at 8:02 p.m.): According to Williams County Emergency Management, there are two confirmed active fires in the county. One of our Facebook followers and residents of Ray, Natalie Martinez, said, "The fire started northwest of Ray, split in two, then ended up jumping the highway. It is currently still growing. The wind is slowly dying down. Farmers are all out trying to help save homes and free cattle."

Updates on the fires in Williams County: Portion of Highway 2 closed in Williams County due to fires as of Saturday evening

UPDATE (10/5/2024 at 6:46 p.m.): According to Karolin Jappe, emergency manager for McKenzie County, and Nathan Rivard, public affairs officer for the National Guard, the North Dakota National Guard is possibly being deployed to the fires in McKenzie County. They did not plan to send aircraft Saturday night, but possibly Sunday morning.

UPDATE (10/5/24 at 5:59 p.m.): McLean County Emergency Manager Noelle Kroll says the fire west of Garrison is still ongoing.

She says there are multiple departments on the scene, including help from farmers with tractors and disks to help control the fire.

UPDATE (10/5/2024 at 5:03 p.m.): Burlington Rural Fire Chief Karter Lesmann said he is sending three firefighters and a command truck to Watford City to provide mutual aid.

UPDATE (10/5/2024 at 3:00 p.m.): According to the McKenzie County Emergency Manager, first responders were dispatched at around 2 p.m. Saturday to a fire south of Watford City. The area was on fire previously Friday night and was put out. It restarted on Saturday.

UPDATE (10/5/2024 at 12:30 p.m.): Fire units about two to three miles north of Arnegard were able to contain a roughly 1,000-acre fire Saturday morning.

McKenzie County Fire Chief Rick Schreiber said they got the call around 2 a.m.

He said when they arrived on the scene, they were dealing with wind gusts of up to 70 miles per hour. He said the fire spread incredibly fast, moving toward an industrial area with homes and shops.

He said this prompted officials to issue an evacuation order for residents, headed by the McKenzie County Sheriff's Office.

Schreiber said about 80-100 people evacuated overnight.

He said the fire was caused by a high voltage overhead power line falling due to high winds.

No structures were lost, with the exception of some outbuildings and chicken coops.

At least one semi-trailer, one car and multiple buildings sustained heat or fire damage.

No one was injured.

Schreiber said fire units from at least eight stations, road and blade crews and local farmers and ranchers were on scene assisting.

The fire is now contained as crews continue putting out hot spots.

The evacuation order was dropped at 8:50 a.m.

While working the fire just north of Arnegard, Schreiber said he started diverting incoming units out to Keene for another reported fire around 5 a.m.

Badlands Search & Rescue Service has been posting updates regarding that fire on its Facebook page.

McKenzie County Emergency Manager Karolin Jappe also confirmed a third fire outbreak in the southeast corner of McKenzie County tracking mostly into Dunn County.

Your News Leader has reached out to the McKenzie County and Dunn County emergency managers and will keep you updated as we learn more.

ORIGINAL STORY (10/5/2024 at 10:45 a.m.): Fire crews have been battling a series of fires in western North Dakota Friday night into Saturday, primarily in McKenzie County, as high winds aggravate the situation.

Crews are fighting a fire north of Arnegard that prompted a temporary evacuation order for the area. The order has since been lifted but residents had to check in with authorities at the Arnegard City Hall before returning, according to the McKenzie County Sheriff's Office.

We've also received reports of a fire northeast of Keene. The MHA Emergency Operations Center also posted that tribal fire crews have been working to contain a fire in the Four Bears area.

Firefighters are facing challenges of 50-75 mile-per-hour winds in some parts of the viewing area.

You can track warnings and advisories here .