BISMARCK, N.D. (KFGO) – Gov. Doug Burgum has asked for a presidential major disaster declaration to help in recovery from historic wildfires in northwestern North Dakota early last month.
Damages are expected to exceed $8 million. The request follows an executive order Burgum issued earlier declaring a statewide fire emergency. In a letter to President Biden through FEMA, Burgum requested a disaster declaration for Williams and McKenzie Counties. Mountrail, Ward, Dunn and Oliver Counties were also affected but don’t qualify for federal assistance.
Rural electrical cooperatives in McKenzie and Williams Counties sustained damage estimated at $3.7 million. Mountrail-Williams Electric and McKenzie Electric Cooperative had significant power outages.
Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative reported that 427 poles needed to be replaced with more than 110 linemen working to restore power. McKenzie Electric Cooperative had to replace about 200 poles.
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