Williams County/Williston Emergency Management

05/29/2026

Want to learn some tips and tricks to be more severe weather-ready?? Join the NWS for a virtual training session on June 1 or June 2.

Learn about thunderstorm formation and storm hazards, flash floods, lightning, tornadoes, hail and high wind. You will learn about how to be prepared, and discuss storm structure. Don't know the difference between a Weather Watch and a Weather Warning? This is the time to find out!

Visit https://www.weather.gov/bis/skytrain for more info and the link to join!

By popular demand we will be hosting two virtual Skywarn sessions Monday, June 1st and Tuesday, June 2nd! Ideal for anyone wanting to attend Skywarn severe weather safety training but can't make it in-person. Registration links are available on our webpage (weather.gov/bis/skytrain).

05/26/2026

🔥5/26/2026: Critical Fire Weather conditions today - Always check before you burn!

‼️Williams County Burn Restrictions are in effect today (edited to clarify)

Low relative humidity and gusty southeast winds will promote critical fire weather conditions along and west of the Highway 85 corridor today into this evening. A Red Flag Warning is in effect. Any fires that ignite will become difficult to control.

05/14/2026

🚨5/14/2026 @ 2:00 PM 🚨The North Dakota Department of Transportation has issued a travel alert for Williams County due to reduced visibility. ‼Please avoid traveling if you do not need to be on the road‼ Conditions are deteriorating.

Several crashes have already been reported throughout the county and agencies are actively responding. 💥 If you must travel, please be aware of road closures and detours. Turn on your lights! 💡

05/14/2026

📢Dear Everyone,

Today is dry. Today is windy. Tomorrow will not be better. Please, please, please, please do not burn anything.
❌Do not throw a cigarette (or a cigar for that matter) out your window.
❌Do not fall for your children’s plea to make a s’more outside.
❌Do not let your trailer chains drag all over the road (sparks = bad).
❌Do not think that burning your small pile of yard debris will “be okay.”

🚩Williams County is under a Red Flag warning through at least Friday, May 15, at 9 pm. The current Fire Danger Rating is Very High, and Friday is not expected to improve. ‼This means the Williams County Burn Restrictions are in effect‼

➡This means NO: campfires, ignition of fireworks (aerial and ground), controlled burns (i.e., wood piles, tumbleweeds, tree piles, etc.), cropland/agriculture, garbage/pit, and unnecessary off-road motorized travel (anything other than paved or gravel surface).

✅Controlled devices, such as gas, charcoal, or pellet grills, are allowed if they are located on a hard, non-organic surface at least 15 feet away from vegetation and a fire extinguisher or water is available on-site.

More info can be found here: https://www.williamsnd.com/burning-in-williams-county/

THANK YOU!!

05/11/2026

🟢UPDATE🟢 5/11/2026 @ 9:35 PM | The fire has been contained and County Road 10 is now open. This is the final situation update.

Thank you to all agencies that assisted with tonight's incident response!

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‼️UPDATE ‼️5/11/2026 @ 8:15 pm | The fire has been contained, but CR 10 (69th St NW) remains closed from CR 1 (147th Ave NW) to CR 7 (144th Ave NW). Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

🔥5/11/2026 @ 6:30 pm | Active Grass Fire West of Blacktail Dam | There is an active and ongoing response to a grass fire located west of Blacktail Dam near County Road 7 and County Road 1 (144th Ave NW - 147th Ave NW) and County Road 10 (69th St NW).

❗UPDATE @ 6:40 pm ❗County Road 10 is now closed from CR 1 (147th Ave NW) to CR 7 (144th Ave NW), west of Blacktail Dam- please avoid this area.

The public is asked to avoid this area and use caution if currently traveling. More information will be provided as it is received.

Incident Command: Grenora Rural Fire

05/02/2026

5/2/2026: The Fire Danger Rating today for Williams County is 🔥EXTREME🔥 and critical fire weather is forecasted for tomorrow.

The Williams County Burn Restrictions are in effect when the Fire Danger Rating is Very High or Extreme. This means no campfires!

For more info, visit www.williamsnd.com/burning-in-williams-county

Williams County ND
Williams County Sheriff's Office, ND

Critical fire weather conditions are possible Sunday afternoon and early evening for northwest, north central and portions of southwest and south central North Dakota. Near critical fire weather conditions are possible Sunday south of the Fire Weather Watch. Any fires that ignite will spread rapidly and become difficult to control.

04/30/2026

🔥🚫BURN RESTRICTION REMINDER🚫🔥 The Williams County Burn Restriction is in effect when the ND Rangeland Fire Danger Rating is in the Very High or Extreme category for Williams County, and/or a Red Flag Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for Williams County.

When the Burn Restrictions are in place, burning of the following is restricted:
🔥Very High: NO campfires, ignition of fireworks (aerial and ground), controlled burns (i.e., wood piles, tumbleweeds, tree piles, etc.), cropland/agriculture, garbage/pit, and unnecessary off-road motorized travel (anything other than paved or gravel surface).

🔥🔥Extreme: NO campfires, the ignition of fireworks (aerial and ground), controlled burns (i.e., wood piles, tumbleweeds, tree piles, etc.), cropland/agriculture, garbage/pit, and unnecessary off-road motorized travel (anything other than paved or gravel surface).

🚩Red Flag Warning: NO campfires, the ignition of fireworks (aerial and ground), controlled burns (i.e., wood piles, tumbleweeds, tree piles, etc.), cropland/agriculture, garbage/pit, and unnecessary off-road motorized travel (anything other than paved or gravel surface).

🟢What is allowed? The use of controlled devices (e.g. personal cooking/grilling devices) IS allowed IF they are located on a hard, non-organic surface at least 15 feet away from vegetation and a fire extinguisher or water is available on-site.

🍳What is a controlled device? Items such as gas, charcoal, wood-fired/pellet grills, gas patio fireplaces and chimneys, gas camp stoves, and smokers/pellet grills.

🗺Where can I check the Fire Danger Rating? Find all our burn restriction information and a live Fire Danger Rating map at https://www.williamsnd.com/burning-in-williams-county/

04/28/2026

DYK? Lighting is capable of striking up to 10 miles away from the storm, so even if you don’t see rain you could be in harm’s way! 🌩⚡

Today’s topic for Severe Summer Weather Awareness Week is Lightning. Thunderstorms produce deadly lighting capable of striking up to 10 miles away from the storm, so even if you don’t see rain you could be in harm’s way. You are safest indoors, or inside a hard-topped enclosed vehicle. See a Flash, Dash Inside!

04/16/2026

Thank you to our dispatchers! ☎🚨🟡

🟡National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week🟡 Our dispatchers at the Williams County Dispatch Center are the calm voices that answer the most urgent calls.

🚨Working 24/7, their quick thinking is what keeps us safe when we respond to calls, and what keeps the caller focused when they reach out for help.

🌟We appreciate your professionalism and dedication!🌟

01/31/2026

1/31/2026 @ 7:30 am - Be prepared for icy road conditions today! Check https://travel.dot.nd.gov/ before you head out.

[630 AM CST Update] Freezing rain continues to move into western North Dakota this morning, with ice starting to form in NDDOT cameras. As precipitation moves further east through the morning, freezing rain is expected to become mixed with sleet and snow. If you plan on traveling today, be prepared for slippery conditions and periods of reduced visibility due to blowing snow.