(KNOX) – Governor Doug Burgum has asked for a presidential major disaster declaration to help the recovery from historic wildfires in northwest North Dakota in early October.
Damage is 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.
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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