Crews battle fire at oil well site in western North Dakota for over 12 hours

By Forum staff

March 26, 2023 at 11:37 AM

NEW TOWN, N.D. — Fire crews spent more than 12 hours extinguishing a blaze at a Hess Corp. oil well pad north of New Town in western North Dakota.

No injuries were reported, according to the Williston Fire Department.

At about 1 p.m. Friday, March 24, Mountrail County asked the Williston Fire Department for help in responding to the fire.

Williston sent four firefighters with its hazardous materials team to the fire scene to assist with monitoring air quality. Williams County Emergency Management sent its command vehicle.

As of about 5:30 p.m. Friday, the blaze was considered "contained and stable," fire officials said. Fire crews and Hess emergency response staff remained at the scene overnight, and the fire was completely extinguished at 3:51 a.m. Saturday.

A Hess representative told KFYR-TV that the site houses eight storage tanks, including separate water tanks and oil tanks. The company said it plans to investigate the cause of the fire and send an environmental cleanup team to the site.

By Forum staff

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