LEMMON, S.D.–Nearly twenty fire departments from two states have been fighting a massive wildfire northwest of Lemmon in Adams County, North Dakota.
Lemmon Fire Marshal Shane Penfield says the fire call came in at 4:30 Thursday afternoon during extremely windy conditions.
Lemmon immediately requested mutual aid from the Hettinger, North Dakota Fire Department and an initial attack was made.
Penfield says the fire was growing very rapidly and moving southeast.
Several farms and ranches were evacuated and structure protection was initiated by responding fire departments from as far away as Mobridge, Faith, and Flasher and Bowman, North Dakota. In addition, several other agencies assisted including the Perkins County Sheriff’s Office, Lemmon Ambulance, South Dakota Highway Patrol, Ziebach County Sheriff’s Office, BIA Fire Department, and the Perkins County Highway Department.
North Dakota Forestry and several individuals were hauling water and plowing fire brakes. Staging areas were designated at Lemmon and Shadehill where water resources from several departments were organized.
Penfield says around 1:30 this morning (Fri., Jan. 15), the west flank of the fire re-ignited, and crews are continuing to work on containing the fire. He estimates the fire has traveled over 20 miles, and was, at some points, more than four miles wide. The head of the fire had fire heights upwards of 20 to 30 feet.
It’s believed to have consumed more than 10,000 acres.
Two firefighters were injured and received medical care at West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger, N.D.
