Annual maintenance is key to preventing fires, officials say By Wendy Royston, Dakotafire Media Additional reporting by Ken Schmierer Some rural Dakotans have recently taken to burning corn, pellets and wood to avoid burning as much cash for home heating…
The Gackle Bros. Building was a memento for the town of Kulm to share, a place where throughout the years the community bought their shoes and hardware, went roller skating, had their oil changed and much more. Now residents will have to shore up those memories without the building to support them.
With no precipitation of any kind during the last three weeks, the fire danger is high and local volunteer fire departments deployed to three fires starting Sept. 14.
An overnight fire in 2011 destroyed a big part of Willow Lake’s downtown—but even if the fire burned down businesses, it also sparked a drive to survive and a phenomenal flurry of community action.
The fact that hay can spontaneously combust when stored wet is something that was once common knowledge but is not any longer as people move away from agriculture.