Fire marshal: Cause of Bucyrus fire unknown

BUCYRUS, N.D. (AP) — The state fire marshal has concluded that the cause of a fire that devastated the small southwestern North Dakota town of Bucyrus can’t be determined.

The Dickinson Press reported that the state fire marshal’s office issued its findings on Friday.

Deputy Fire Marshall Don Temple stated in the report that the fire started Oct. 17 on farmland in western Adams County. The fire burned nearly 6,000 acres, destroyed four homes and several of other structures in the community.

No injuries were reported.

The report said the fire started on land owned by Mike Mellmer of Reeder and originated about 40 feet from a site where he burned and buried an outbuilding in March.

“It’s difficult to know how it started,” Hettinger Fire Chief Mark Faller said. “I wasn’t there when it ignited and, as far as I know, nobody knows how that fire started.”

Seven homes and the town’s Lutheran church were spared from the blaze that was pushed by winds of nearly 70 mph.

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