Fire Destroys Home in McKenzie County
Travis Bateman
Farmer Staff Writer
Emergency crews were dispatched to a residential structure fire at about 1:10 p.m. on Thursday, April 23, about five miles southeast of Johnsons Corner in McKenzie County.
The two-story residence with attached garage produced smoke and flames stretching into four hours before firefighters brought it under control.
The ranch, located in the 2400 block of 106th Avenue NW, had at least three residential structures mixed with barns, silos, and other typical farm and ranch buildings. No injuries were reported and the ambulance was on scene throughout the incident.
McKenzie County Rural Fire-Keene, was aided by the Watford City station and two tanker semis from the McKenzie County Road & Bridge Department. At least three fire district tanker trucks shuttled water as the fight raged on one, two, three, and into four hours.
The garage roof was fully burned while the southern and second story into the home later came into play with flames shooting 10 to 15 feet high at times amidst strong winds.
From the ground, hose teams were seen shooting streams of water into the upper windows until those streams eventually weakened and the smoke and flames would once again rage on as lines ran empty. Once another tanker arrived it was hooking to that and continuing to tame flames that once snuffed, had once again raged and continued burning into the southern part of the structure unabated and strengthened by winds and abundant fuel.
McKenzie County Sheriff units and an ambulance from Mandaree Emergency Medical Services were also on location.
The structure, likely to be considered a total loss both due to fire and water damage. A cause not immediately disclosed, it appears through the progression of the fire as observed on scene, began in the northern portion containing the garage.
The MCF will follow up with investigators and report additional updates as they become available.