That afternoon Burgum and other state officials held a press conference in Watford City to provide an update on the ongoing efforts to curtail the ongoing wildfires.

“I just want to lead with gratitude with all of you. We all had the opportunity to be up in the air this morning and on the ground over in Tioga meeting with first responders, law enforcement, EMS, the folks that are working the phones on dispatch, local ranchers and farmers,” Burgum said. “I had a chance to meet over there with an individual who was out trying to help fight the fire driving equipment, then he got a call that his place was in trouble. He got his wife and five kids out of there OK, but he lost his home headquarters.”

After an aerial tour of wildfires in the Mandaree and Ray areas with Brig. Gen. Mitch Johnson, the North Dakota National Guard’s adjutant general, Burgum and state Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread and state Fire Marshal Doug Nelson met in Tioga with firefighters from Tioga, Ray, Williston, Epping, Trenton, Grenora and Alamo, along with emergency management personnel, county commissioners, farmers and others.

According to a news release, The governor also surveyed the Elkhorn fire near Grassy Butte – which covered 28,400 acres as of Monday morning – and held a press conference at the McKenzie County Courthouse in Watford City with Johnson, Goehring, Godfread, State Forester Tom Claeys, North Dakota Forest Service Fire Management Officer Ryan Melin, McKenzie County Emergency Manager Karolin Jappe and other officials.

Submitted Photo This is an aerial view of the Bear Den fire near Mandaree, which has covered 25,000 acres as of Monday.

“Part of what makes North Dakota special is the strong collaboration between agencies and communities at all levels, neighbors helping neighbors, and that’s been on full display during these incredibly challenging wildfires,” Burgum said. “Local firefighters, first responders, farmers and ranchers have fought alongside state, tribal and federal resources against incredible odds to literally save entire communities, and we are deeply grateful for their tireless efforts.”

According to the release, Two North Dakota National Guard Black Hawk helicopters used water buckets to make 59 water drops totaling 39,000 pounds of water scooped out of Lake Sakakawea and other sources on Sunday, and a third Black Hawk was added to Monday’s operations. The Guard also has 27 firefighters who are expected to continue working the fires through this week.

“I do want to say thank you for all the people last week who got ready. Some people have said, ‘Hey did we get caught off guard?’ The answer on that is no. We saw this thing coming. We’ve been following. Our Department of Emergency Services tracking the low precipitation, the low humidity, the higher risk and managing all that was over a week ago,” Burgum said. “This is a marathon, not a sprint. We could be at this awhile, so we’re going to maintain all the work we’re doing.”

At least four residences were reported to be destroyed by fire, along with numerous outbuildings. Citing the widespread damage to pastures, farmland, equipment, fencing and buildings, state Sen. Dale Patten, of Watford City, said in the release, “The scale of the impact is going to be huge, and it is going to take some time to get that all put together.”

The state will be assessing damage to public and private/nonprofit infrastructure once the fires are extinguished and damaged areas can be accessed. The current state-level threshold to request a presidential disaster declaration for North Dakota is $1,472,488, and if there are enough qualifying damage, the state will likely move forward with a disaster declaration, according to the release.

Damage assessments will be conducted over the next few weeks.