North Dakota wildfire victim was about to return home to South Africa for the birth of his daughter

Associated Press

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A South African man who died Saturday due to a North Dakota wildfire over the weekend was planning to return to his wife within weeks in time for the birth of their first child. The Associated Press had spoken with the wife of 26-year-old Nicolaas van Eeden who says he died Saturday due to smoke inhalation. Van Eeden was driving home to Tioga amid the wildfire burning in the area. Authorities on Tuesday confirmed a second death due to the wildfires last weekend. Six large fires burned in scattered areas of western North Dakota. Two were still burning Tuesday in the rugged Badlands.