Request approved for presidential major disaster declaration for North Dakota wildfires

Gov. Kelly Armstrong welcomed news that President Joe Biden has approved North Dakota’s request for a presidential major disaster declaration to assist in recovery from historic wildfires that swept across parts of western North Dakota in early October, causing damage estimated at more than $8 million.

In a Nov. 21 letter directed to Biden through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), then-Gov. Doug Burgum requested a major disaster be declared for the period of Oct. 5-6 for Williams and McKenzie counties.

The approved request makes federal funding available to state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain nonprofit organizations to help cover the costs of emergency response and repairing or replacing damaged infrastructure.

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