Western wildfires in North Dakota claim a second life

(Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor) – A second person has died as a result of North Dakota wildfires and Williams County has declared a state of emergency as fires continue to burn

Edgar Coppersmith, 47, of Tioga, was identified Tuesday as the second fire-related fatality. He had previously been reported as suffering from a critical injury.

Johannes Nicolaas Van Eeden, 26, of South Africa, was identified Saturday as the first fire victim in the Ray area.

In addition to two fatalities, eight injuries have been reported, a Williams County release said.

Williams County reported Tuesday that estimates from satellite imagery and Civil Air Patrol flight observations showed nearly 89,000 acres burned across the central and eastern areas of the county between Saturday and Sunday. An investigation into the start of the fires is ongoing.

Neighboring McKenzie County has issued road closures as fires continue to burn there.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum on Thursday had declared a statewide fire emergency as warm temperatures, high winds, lack of rain and dry vegetation created conditions ripe for wildfires.

The state has compiled wildfire recovery resources at https://ndresponse.gov/wildfire-recovery.

The page provides links to financial assistance programs and other resources as residents deal with lost property, crops, livestock and infrastructure.