BISMARCK, ND — A report from North Dakota’s Fire Marshal’s Office says heat from natural gas flares from operations run by ConocoPhillips and Hess contributed to wildfires in western North Dakota last month.
The report says the heat from the gas flares combined with high wind and dry vegetation to make a combustible combination for the wildfires. The McKenzie County fire began hours before state regulators asked operators to voluntarily shut down oil and gas wells in areas where a high fire danger existed.
The state is finalizing reports on wildfires in Williams County, where two people were killed and six injured by fires.
