Fire prevention

Smoke & CO alarms

• A smoke alarm on every level and in each bedroom
• Test monthly; replace batteries yearly
• Replace any alarm older than 10 years
• Add carbon monoxide alarms near sleeping areas

Heating & electrical

• Keep space heaters three feet from anything that burns
• Inspect furnaces and chimneys before winter
• Do not overload outlets or run cords under rugs
• Never leave wood stoves or candles unattended

Kitchen

• Stay in the kitchen while frying or broiling
• Keep towels and packaging away from burners
• Smother a grease fire with a lid; never use water

Have an escape plan

• Know two ways out of every room
• Pick an outside meeting spot the whole family knows
• Practice it, including at night

Defensible space

• Mow and clear dry grass within 30 feet of buildings
• Keep firewood and propane tanks away from the house
• Trim branches back from roofs and power lines

Equipment & sparks

• Do not park hot equipment or vehicles over dry grass
• Carry water and an extinguisher on field equipment
• Watch chains and implements that can throw sparks

Harvest season

• Blow chaff off engines and bearings daily
• Carry a charged 10 lb ABC extinguisher in the cab
• If a field fire starts, call 911 first, then fight it only if it is small

Campfires

• Check the fire danger and any burn restrictions first; they apply to campfires too
• Use a ring or bare-ground pit, cleared 10 feet around, away from overhanging branches
• Keep water within reach and never leave a fire unattended
• Drown it, stir it, and feel for heat; leave only when it is cold to the touch

Fireworks

• A dry, windy night is a no; check the fire danger before lighting anything
• Light on gravel or bare ground, well away from dry grass and buildings
• Keep a bucket of water or a hose right there
• Duds wait ten minutes, then soak; never try to relight them
• Soak all spent fireworks overnight before they go in the trash; hot leftovers start garbage fires

Hot work

• Clear 10 feet around grinding and welding
• Keep an extinguisher within reach
• Stick around a half hour after; most hot-work fires start late

Storage & wiring

• Keep fuel, solvents, and oily rags in closed metal containers
• Oily rags left in a pile can self-ignite
• Replace wiring that flickers, trips, or smells hot

Mark your place

• Post a reflective address sign at your approach, readable from both directions
• Keep it clear of snow and weeds
• If the driveway splits, mark the way to the house

Everyone knows the address

• Kids and seasonal help should know the physical address, not just directions
• Program it into everyone's phones
• Tell the dispatcher about gates and the best approach

Before you light

• Check the day's fire danger and any burn restrictions
• Watch the wind; do not light on a windy day
• Before a controlled burn, call ND State Radio at (800) 472-2121 so a smoke report does not dispatch fire crews to your field

While it burns

• Clear the area down to bare soil, wide enough that nothing can creep
• Keep water and hand tools within reach the entire time
• Never leave a fire unattended, even for a few minutes
• Put it out if the wind picks up

Putting it out

• Fully extinguish before you leave: soaked, stirred, and cold to the touch
• Check the edges, and check back the next day; wind finds embers you missed

Morton County's restrictions

Morton County ties open burning to the daily fire danger rating; check the statewide map for today's status.

Cities in the county, including Mandan, have their own burning ordinances not shown on the state map. See the current restrictions map or Morton County Emergency Management for the declaration itself.