Current:Home > MyNatural gas flares sparked 2 wildfires in North Dakota, state agency says-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Natural gas flares sparked 2 wildfires in North Dakota, state agency says
View Date:2024-12-23 10:39:01
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Natural gas flares at oil wells sparked two North Dakota wildfires earlier this fall, according to reports from the North Dakota Fire Marshal’s Office.
Investigators concluded that flares combined with high winds and extremely dry weather and started a wildfire near the town of Keene and another near New Town, the Bismarck Tribune reported Thursday. Officials with ConocoPhillips and Hess Corp., which operate the oil wells, say they are still reviewing the reports.
No one was killed or injured in the two fires that both began Oct. 5, but a combined 14 square miles (36.3 square kilometers) were burned, damaging land and livestock.
The fires were among several in northwestern North Dakota in October that burned up to 118,000 square miles (477.6 square km). Two people died and six were injured in other North Dakota wildfires. Agencies are still investigating what caused the other fires.
Flaring is the act of burning off excess natural gas that comes up along with oil. Oil and gas companies are required to flare natural gas from oil wells that cannot be captured or moved — venting natural gas is illegal and creates more pollution than flaring it.
ConocoPhillips spokeswoman Lexey Long said the company is still reviewing the fire investigation report. The company is committed to providing information to the state fire marshal’s office and is working directly with landowners and tenants, Long said in a statement.
“Our focus remains on the safety of our workers, the community and on the protection of the environment,” Long said.
Hess spokeswoman Alison Ritter said the company “is in the process of reviewing the report” and declined further comment.
The fire marshal’s office does not issue penalties or have the power to prosecute. It is unclear if either company will face consequences.
veryGood! (837)
Related
- Rōki Sasaki is coming to MLB: Dodgers the favorite to sign Japanese ace for cheap?
- Civil Rights Movement Freedom Riders urge younger activists to get out the vote
- Simone Biles' redemption and Paris Olympic gold medal was for herself, U.S. teammates
- Atlanta man pleads guilty to making phone threats to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene
- Ben Foster Files for Divorce From Laura Prepon After 6 Years of Marriage
- Amy Wilson-Hardy, rugby sevens player, faces investigation for alleged racist remarks
- Three anti-abortion activists sentenced to probation in 2021 Tennessee clinic blockade
- Nebraska teen accused of causing train derailment for 'most insane' YouTube video
- Georgia lawmaker proposes new gun safety policies after school shooting
- Firefighters make progress against massive blaze in California ahead of warming weather
Ranking
- Olivia Munn began randomly drug testing John Mulaney during her first pregnancy
- NYC’s latest crackdown on illegal weed shops is finally shutting them down
- Drone video shows freight train derailing in Iowa near Glidden, cars piling up: Watch
- El Chapo’s son pleads not guilty to narcotics, money laundering and firearms charges
- 24 more monkeys that escaped from a South Carolina lab are recovered unharmed
- 'Absolutely incredible:' Kaylee McKeown, Regan Smith put on show in backstroke final
- Delaney Schnell, Jess Parratto fail to add medals while Chinese diving stars shine
- Harris gives Democrats a jolt in a critical part of swing-state Wisconsin
Recommendation
-
What happens to Donald Trump’s criminal conviction? Here are a few ways it could go
-
Meet the Olympics superfan who spent her savings to get to her 7th Games
-
Severe storms in the Southeast US leave 1 dead and cause widespread power outages
-
Families seek answers after inmates’ bodies returned without internal organs
-
When does Spirit Christmas open? What to know about Spirit Halloween’s new holiday venture
-
Former New Hampshire youth detention center worker dies awaiting trial on sexual assault charges
-
Selena Gomez Reacts to Claim Her Younger Self Would Never Get Engaged to Benny Blanco
-
Police union will not fight the firing of sheriff's deputy who fatally shot Sonya Massey