Natural gas flares sparked 2 wildfires in North Dakota, state agency says

2025-01-13 01:58:13 source:lotradecoin holdings category:Scams

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.

RELATED COVERAGE 2 charged with setting some Northeast wildfires amid New Jersey drought warning and blazes out West Contained, extinguished and mopping up: Here’s what some common wildfire terms mean New Jersey will issue a drought warning after driest October ever and as wildfires rage

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.

More:Scams

Recommend

'Secret Level' creators talk new video game Amazon series, that Pac

Spoiler alert! This story contains major details from the "Pac-Man" episode of Amazon Prime Video's

How Tony Shalhoub and the 'Monk' creator made a reunion movie fans will really want to see

If obsessive-compulsive detective Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub) were going to write a movie about hims

In rare action against Israel, U.S. will deny visas to extremist West Bank settlers

In a rare punitive move against Israel, the State Department said Tuesday it will impose travel bans