Heat from gas flares, combined with high winds and dry conditions, played a key role in two significant wildfires in western North Dakota this October, investigators have revealed.
Fires Sparked by Gas Flares at Oil Wells
According to reports from the North Dakota State Fire Marshal, investigations into two wildfires that broke out on October 5, 2024, near Keene and New Town point to gas flares at nearby oil wells as the primary cause. The fires, which burned hundreds of acres of land, began close to oil and gas sites, where natural gas flares are a common practice to burn off excess gas. The heat from these flares, along with dry vegetation and strong winds, set off fires that spread rapidly across McKenzie County.
The fires, referred to as the Midnight Run fire near Keene and the Dinwoodie fire near New Town, ignited just hours before state regulators called for a voluntary shutdown of oil wells in areas with high fire danger. The fires burned 7,000 acres near Keene and 2,000 acres near New Town, forcing evacuations in the affected areas. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported, and structures remained unharmed.
How Gas Flares Contribute to Wildfire Risk
Gas flares are used by oil and gas companies to safely burn off natural gas that cannot be captured or transported. However, the flares themselves can pose significant fire risks, especially under extreme weather conditions. In this case, the high winds—gusting between 60 to 70 mph—combined with dry grass and stubble from agricultural fields created ideal conditions for the fires to spread.
Flares at oil sites can burn at temperatures between 1,200 and 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit, according to data reviewed by fire investigators. On the day of the fires, one flare operated by Hess Corp. at a well site near New Town was reported to have been running slightly hotter than usual. Investigators suggest that this spike in temperature, along with the wind, may have dislodged hot carbon particles or oil from the flare stack, leading to the ignition of nearby vegetation.
Wildfire Damage and the Broader Impact
The fires in McKenzie County are part of a broader wave of wildfires that affected North Dakota in October. A total of 190 fires were reported across the state, burning 126,273 acres. The economic damage is still being assessed, but rural electric cooperatives alone have reported $7.7 million in damages. This figure does not include losses sustained by farmers and ranchers, who were also affected by the fires.
These wildfires have also had a direct impact on oil production. Operators in McKenzie County, where the Midnight Run and Dinwoodie fires occurred, have agreed to some voluntary restrictions on oil well activity in areas at high risk for wildfires. These restrictions include temporarily shutting down certain wells to prevent additional flare-related fires.
Ongoing Investigations and Industry Response
The investigation into the fires is ongoing, with additional reports being finalized by the North Dakota State Fire Marshal. A separate investigation by the U.S. Forest Service is also looking into the Elkhorn Fire in McKenzie County, while the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is examining the Bear Den Fire on the Fort Berthold Reservation.
In the meantime, Hess Corp. and other oil companies in the region are reviewing the fire marshal’s findings. A spokesperson for Hess said that the company is still looking into the report and did not provide an immediate comment on the investigation’s results.
The fires have raised questions about the safety of gas flaring practices in high-risk areas. With climate change exacerbating fire seasons and increasing the frequency of dry conditions, the risk posed by flaring has come under increasing scrutiny from both environmental groups and local communities.
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