News Release

Two Rivers Wildfire

A brown tree wtih black charred marks sits in a field of black with a blue sky with white clouds behind it.

Emilee Franklin

News Release Date: May 20, 2024

Contact: Emilee Franklin, 7017453300

May 20, 2024

News Release

Media Contact: Training Specialist, Emilee Franklin 701-745-3300
 

National Park Service Thanks Stanton Volunteer Fire Department for Assisting with Lightning Caused Fire

Stanton, ND – Swift response initiated by the Stanton Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) to suppress a wildfire at Knife River Indian Villages National Historical Site this weekend. On the evening of Friday May 17^th, at 7:05 p.m. a National Park Service (NPS) employee contacted Mercer County Sheriff’s Office dispatch to report a wildfire. The fire was near the Two Rivers Trail at the Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site in Stanton, ND. A large cloud of smoke was visible from town and was increasing in size. Within 10 minutes members of the Stanton VFD, alongside NPS staff firefighters who were first on scene, began fire suppression. The crews worked together for the next 3.5 hours to secure the scene for the night.  NPS personnel were back on the scene by 7 a.m. the next morning, and continued working to ensure that the wildfire stayed contained on a day with winds gusting up to 40 mph.

The wildfire (Two Rivers Fire) has been determined to be 7.4 acres in size and the ignition source was a lightning strike. There were thunderstorms in the area during the afternoons of May 16 and 17^th. A tree displaying obvious indications of a lightning strike was found in the wildfire area and was determined as the cause by Stanton VFDs and NPS personnel. Lightning is the most common non-human cause of wildfire.

On Thursday, May 16^th a prescribed fire was conducted in the park. The prescribed fire was around 250 acres and was secured. Firefighters patrolled the area Thursday evening, as well as all of Friday, ensuring that the fire was secure. The Two Rivers Fire that occurred on the evening of Friday, May 17^th was on the opposite side of the Knife River at a distance of one-tenth of a mile away from the prescribed fire and is not related to the prescribed burn from the day before.

The National Park Service would like to thank all the firefighters who were able to assist with this wildfire, with special thanks to the Stanton Fire Department who worked hard to suppress and mop up the Two Rivers Wildfire!