A fire struck Cannon Ball, a community on the North Dakota portion of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. Photo by Juliana White Bull / Twitter
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe evacuated a community and halted classes at two schools due to fire threats on the reservation. About 875 people left their homes in Cannon Ball, on the North Dakota portion of the reservation, on Sunday. A fire struck near the Cannon Ball Elementary School and destroyed playground equipment there but the structure itself was fortunately spared. The blaze, though, destroyed at least three homes and a church in the community. The fire consumed about 1,500 acres, The Bismarck Tribune reported. It has mostly been put out. Evacuees stayed overnight at the nearby Prairie Knights Casino in Fort Yates. Most returned to their homes today but about 22 families remain displaced, KXMB reported. Classes were canceled at the elementary school and the Solen High School. Cannon Ball is the community that President Barack Obama visited in June 2014. Across the border in South Dakota, another fire has consumed 1,000 acres near Wakpala. The blaze does not appear to be threatening any structures or homes. Get the Story:
High winds fuel new wildfire on reservation in South Dakota (AP 10/12)
Fire 'out of control' near Wakpala (The Bismarck Tribune 10/12)
Wind driven fire causes Cannon Ball to evacuate (Prairie Public News 10/12)
Some Cannonball Residents Still Displaced After Fire (KXMB 10/12)
Second fire burning on Standing Rock Reservation (KXMB 10/12)
Wildfire destroys homes, church on North Dakota's Standing Rock Reservation (KFGO 10/12)
Grassfire evacuates the Cannon Ball area (Valley News 10/11)
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