JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Residents in the area noticed a large plume of black smoke coming from a field east of Jamestown Tuesday afternoon.

While the burn was controlled, the Jamestown Rural Fire Department was called out to investigate. JRFD Ben Maulding tells NewsDakota that individuals conducting controlled burns need to call the Stutsman County Dispatch Center to report when and where the burn is occurring so there’s no need to page out the department.

“We ask that people who are doing controlled burns to please call 701-252-1000 with the location and contact information,” Chief Maulding explained. “That way fire departments will not get paged out to a controlled burn.”

Earlier this year, Stutsman County Emergency Manager Jerry Bergquist reminded residents that an ordinance has been put in place year round that restricts burning only when the Fire Danger Rating for Stutsman County is in the “VERY HIGH” or “EXTREME” categories or if a “RED FLAG WARNING” has been issued by the National Weather Service.

A full version of the burn ordinance can also be found at the website under Departments, choose Zoning, and click on “Burn Ban Ordinance” on the right hand side of the page.

Tuesday conditions on the fire danger map are low.

Below are some photos of the controlled burn East of Jamestown.