BILLINGS COUNTY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – As of 9:30 AM MDT today, firefighters are reporting 45% containment and an estimated 5000 acres burned for the Horse Pasture Fire in the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP) and the McKenzie District of the Little Missouri National Grassland.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Light winds last night and expected today have responders optimistic as they continue to contain the wildland fire. At this time, no structure damage has been reported, but the CCC campground and other infrastructure in the park are still at risk, as well as some private residences on the north end of the fire.

The USDA Forest Service has expanded the closure for the area affected by the Horse pasture wildfire south of Watford City. This Closure now includes CCC Campground, the Maah Daah Hey Trail from CCC Campground South to National Forest System Road (NFSR) 823, the Long X and Sunset Trail, Summit Campground, and the Summit Overlook. The closure applies to all National Forest System lands including roads and trails, in the area from the North Boundary of Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit, West of Highway 85, continuing West until NFSR 851 and South of 17th Street Northwest.

Complete details and a map of these closures can be found on the U.S. Forest Service-Dakota Prairie Grasslands Facebook page. This order is to protect public health and safety, and is in effect until further notice.

The USDA Forest Service has also issued an Emergency Order for Fire and Shooting Restrictions on all National Forest System lands within Billings, Golden Valley, Grant, McKenzie, Sioux, Slope, Ransom and Richland counties, North Dakota and Corson, Perkins, and Ziebach Counties, South Dakota until further notice.

Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire, smoking, and discharging a firearm, air rifle, or gas gun are prohibited with some exceptions.