New Salem Fire Department

09/09/2026

On Saturday evening, September 5th, New Salem Fire Department battled a stubble field fire approximately 9 miles northeast of New Salem. We were dispatched around 6:45 pm CDT to a fire burning in a stubble field. Unit 9050 (Attack 1) and Brush 1 were both enroute shortly after the first page, and observed significant smoke from a distance. The fire spread quickly to the northwest due to steady and breezy southeast winds. Given the conditions, an additional page was sent for more units and firefighters. Initial-arriving units began extinguishing the fire, and were assisted by landowners with discs cutting fire lines and with supplying additional water sources. Unit 9699, Tanker 1, and Tanker 2 also responded from New Salem Fire Department. The fire was stopped, and significant mop-up was conducted to ensure all hotspots on the edge of the fire were extinguished, with particular attention to hotspots in an adjacent corn field. In total, New Salem Fire Department responded with 10 firefighters and 5 units. Firefighters cleared the scene around 9:15 pm CDT. The fire burned approximately 80 acres. New Salem Ambulance Service also responded and was on standby at the scene while firefighters worked in the 90 degree heat. We are also grateful to Almont Fire Department and Mandan Rural Fire Department who were sending units to assist during early stages of the fire. Thankfully we stopped forward progress of the fire and were able to cancel their response, but we're grateful for those departments jumping into action quickly when we thought we needed them. We're also thankful for all the landowners and neighbors that helped out. We're truly in a great community that helps one another out when emergencies happen!

08/28/2026

*New Salem Fire Department Responds to Fire Near New Salem*

On Wednesday, August 26th, we were paged at 12:07 pm CDT for a grass fire approximately 7 miles north-northeast of New Salem. Attack 1/Unit 9050 and Tanker 1 were both enroute with crews within a few minutes. While those units were enroute, firefighters observed black smoke from a distance that was consistent with a structure fire, and called for an additional page. Initial-arriving crews found a grass fire in a farmyard, a barn that was engulfed in flames, with the grass fire spreading southward away from the area. Brush 1 arrived shortly thereafter and together the units ensured the fire was kept away from the unoccupied farmhouse in the yard, and to stop the spread of the grass fire. Two additional fire units arrived shortly thereafter (Tanker 2 and Attack 2) and crews worked to stop the grass fire, prevent additional spread of the fire in the farmyard, and to fully extinguish the barn and one other outbuilding that were burned in the fire. The grass fire burned into a slough area and had large flame lengths consistent with how dry it's been. The grass fire burned about 15 acres. A barn and one other outbuilding were lost in the fire. Crews remained on scene until around 330 pm CDT ensuring the fire was fully extinguished. The department responded with 10 firefighters and five units. Cause of the fire was determined to be a bird in a transformer.

The department is grateful to the many farmers and ranchers in the area that helped with this fire, including by providing additional water and resources. We are also thankful for assistance from the New Salem Ambulance Service and Morton County Sheriff's Office on the scene.

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08/24/2026

Our ability to conduct searches for victims in burning buildings is one of the most critical things we prepare for, and so is our ability to get victims out once we find them. This month our department trained on both, including review and discussions on statistics of 5,000 reported rescues all around the country, and training on new and improved techniques to bring victims out of a structure fire. This is all part of our continual efforts to get better, and to integrate all the latest data and techniques into our mission to serve the community!

08/06/2026

Sometimes we get to help out, AND have some fun! We had firefighters staged along with Engine 1 and Attack 1 last Saturday afternoon and evening at the Morton County Fair for the power pull! We're always honored to help out with community events, and our firefighters sure don't mind getting to hang out at the fair! (Even though some of them did actually have to leave for one of our grass fire calls for a while!).

08/04/2026

All the heat and lack of moisture has caught up to us, and wildfire season is in full swing. It's time to be extra careful with anything at all that could cause a spark, and to carry a fire extinguisher or water with you if you're doing work or enjoying the outdoors. And if a fire does start, don't hesitate to call 911, as it gets us on the move right away, and can make all the difference, especially on hot windy days.

New Salem Fire Department has been busy the last few days!

*Saturday, August 1st we were paged for a grass fire near Sweet Briar Creek northeast of New Salem. We responded with 5 units and around 15 firefighters. We extinguished the fire before it was able to cross the creek bottom, then did extensive mop-up to ensure there would be no rekindling. Around 30 acres burned.

*Monday, August 3rd:

We were paged for a grass fire started by lightning about 17 miles northwest of New Salem in our response area/fire district at 430 am. We responded quickly with multiple units, and thankfully were able to get the fire under control relatively quickly once we arrived on scene, despite gusty winds. While on this fire, crews saw flames on the horizon to the north and sent units to investigate, finding a large fire west of Hannover that the Oliver County, Beulah, and Hazen Fire Departments were battling. New Salem provided mutual aid assistance to those crews since it wasn't in our fire district, but thankfully a rain shower put that second fire out before it became even worse in the early morning hours.

Monday afternoon, New Salem firefighters returned to the fire 17 miles northwest of New Salem to douse a few hot spots. While there, the other fire west of Hannover also reignited and was pushed quickly on strong winds. New Salem once again provided mutual aid and assisted the Oliver County and Hazen Fire Departments since we were nearby and could lend a hand. Thankfully that fire was brought under control once more after all the crews converged on it.

It's that dry, everyone - be extra careful, but don't hesitate to call us if you need us!

07/18/2026

The chicken is on the grill! Come on downtown New Salem from 4 to 7 pm today for Fair Chicken! Yes the chicken that used to be at the Morton County Fair, don't miss it! Enjoy a delicious meal while supporting the volunteer fire department!