North Dakota governor declares fire emergency amid drought
Aug 07, 2026 | 4:45 pm ET
Description
North Dakota National Guard soldiers and airmen work with the Department of Emergency Services to prevent the spread of a wildfire near Mandaree on Oct. 6, 2024. Gov. Kelly Armstrong declared a statewide fire emergency Aug. 7, 2026, due to drought conditions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo courtesy of Staff Sgt. Samuel J. Kroll)
North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong on Friday declared a statewide fire emergency as drought conditions have spread across the state.
North Dakota also is activating the State Emergency Operations Plan as the risk of wildfires has intensified during a hot, dry summer.
The emergency declaration directs all state agencies, including the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services, North Dakota Forest Service and North Dakota National Guard, to maintain high levels of readiness to combat fires. The order is effective until Dec 1, unless extended.
“In just a few months, we’ve seen ground conditions shift from lush green to tinder dry across large portions of our state, and we need to be prepared for a potentially intense wildfire season this fall,” Armstrong said in a news release.
More than half the state is in moderate or severe drought. Another 36% is rated abnormally dry. Officials are not expecting conditions to improve in the near future.
In October 2024, wildfires burned more than 100,000 acres in North Dakota and claimed two lives.
Bismarck, ND
