Independent news from the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance
May 3, 2024

News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

— Featured

Crews monitor incident after explosion shakes New Town

Adrianna Adame
by
adrianna@imfreedomalliance.org
We are part of The Trust Project
Nearby resident “worried about what was going to be in the air after that explosion. Would it affect our breathing?” Photo Courtesy Valorie Brady Nearby resident “worried about what was going to be in the air after that explosion. Would it affect our breathing?” Photo Courtesy Valorie Brady

Early on July 18, an explosion shook the bypass area north of the Three Affiliated Tribes’ headquarters at New Town, N.D.

As flames broke out and black pillows of smoke from the blast site surged skyward, nearby resident Valorie Brady marveled, “It shook my house. It was too close to home,” she told Buffalo’s Fire.

The New Town Fire Department received a report that the incident occurred on the Fort Berthold Reservation. The Minot Daily News said it was an oil-field explosion.

Personnel from multiple agencies assisted with traffic and safety at the scene located on N.D. Highway 23-1804 and College Drive. According to a fire department update, responders reopened the route while the incident was still active. They asked locals to be cautious while driving, as well as to slow down and move over if needed. The scene was reported to be stable, with no ongoing hazards to the community.

However, Brady said, “I was worried about what was going to be in the air after that explosion. Would it affect our breathing it in?”

Posted in Featured Fort BertholdTagged
Adrianna Adame
adrianna@imfreedomalliance.org

Adrianna Adame -- enrolled Chippewa Cree, Rocky Boy's Reservation in Montana -- is a Report for America corps member covering Indigenous Democracy across the state of North Dakota for Buffalo’s Fire. While in Bismarck, she will be reporting on voting rights, tribal council, school board and rural co-op meetings, tribal college stories and K-12 education. Prior to joining Buffalo’s Fire, Adame graduated with her Masters in Journalism from Syracuse University’s S.I. School of Public Communication, where she was a Newhouse Minority Fellow and intern at Syracuse.com. In Syracuse, she reported on stories from underrepresented communities in Central New York, as well as arts and entertainment. Adame has also contributed and written for local and editorial sites such as POPSUGAR, the Stand, NPR Next Gen and Flique Editorial. Throughout her undergrad years, she also held the positions of Managing and News Editor for The Cougar Chronicle, California State San Marcos’ student newspaper, where she lead, edited, reported and most importantly, first became passionate about journalism. Since her days at The Cougar Chronicle, she’s has been determined to work in local journalism, primarily focusing on diverse communities. Adame is Mexican American and a proud member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy, Montana.

Related Articles