(The following article by Jenny Michael was posted on the Bismarck Tribune website on September 14.)
BISMARCK, N.D. — At least four fires broke out along the railroad between Mandan and New Salem on Wednesday afternoon.
Morton County Sheriff’s Sgt. Bryan Kirchmeier said the fires were started by a passing train.
The New Salem Fire Department extinguished two fires east of New Salem, said Chief Delton Kautzman.
He said about 500 acres burned in the two fires his department fought.
Mandan Rural Fire Department responded to two or three fires west of Mandan, Kirchmeier said.
That department was still fighting at least one blaze shortly before 9 p.m.
The New Salem Fire Department sent two units to assist Mandan Rural, Kirchmeier said. He said units from Mandan Fire Department and Bismarck Rural Fire Department also helped Mandan Rural Fire.
Kirchmeier said that approximately one mile of land between the railroad tracks and Old Highway 10 had burned along one stretch.
Mandan Rural Fire personnel were not available to comment on the amount of land burned in their fires.
Old Highway 10 was closed Wednesday afternoon between Mandan and New Salem, but a portion from Judson Corner to New Salem later reopened, Kirchmeier said.