Edgar Coppersmith and van Eeden both tragically lost their lives due to impacts from the wildfires, according to North Dakota Emergency Services.

The “Community Strong: Remembering the 2024 October Wildfires and Those Who Stood Together” event featured a 30-minute video of interviews and stories from responders and impacted landowners remembering the October wildfires.

“The conditions were absolutely extreme,” said State Forester Tom Claeys of the North Dakota Forest Service and member of Unified Command in the State Emergency Operations Center during the October disaster. “You’re talking high winds, smoke, dirt in the air – extraordinary – I can’t even envision a more dangerous scenario.”

After the video, a panel of first responders and an impacted homeowner continued to share their stories of response and recovery. The panel included impacted landowner Perry Ecker, Ryan Melin of the N.D. Forest Service and Watford City Fire Chief Dave Uhlich. Karolin Jappe, McKenzie County emergency manager, moderated the panel.

A letter also was read from van Eeden father, who was not able to attend.

“It’s an honour to write this letter from a cold Garden Route, South Africa. It feels after this terrible day like we are a part of North Dakota, and the North Dakota people,” he wrote.

The Highway Patrol has maintained close contact with the greater van Eeden family since the event through the Crash Assistance Program, as has the trooper who found van Eeden alive at the time. Sgt. Coby Hubble was awarded a distinguished service medal for his efforts to save van Eeden and others Oct. 5.