Slash Pile Burning south of Keystone 1/03/2019

The South Dakota Wildland Fire Rapid City Field Office will be burning approximately 3 acres of slash piles today south of Highway 40 in Keystone, roughly above the Big Thunder Mine. This will continue throughout the winter months as snow cover is adequate. Pile burning is a great tool to reduce fire risk in an area as it eliminates fuels on the ground.Smoke may be visible in the surrounding areas, and can linger for several days after ignition has been completed. Fire crews will continue to monitor the piles as appropriate.

Photo taken by Casey Glines.

Photo taken by Casey Glines.

December 17, 2018

Dry Creek CA (11:45am)

• Located in Custer County east of Highway 79, off Dry Creek Road
• Size: 44.9 acres
• Local and State resources responded
• Contained and controlled at 1:19 pm

December 10, 2018

Black Hills National Forest to continue Pile Burning throughout the week.

• Hell Canyon Ranger District will be burning piles southeast of Hardy Guard Station south towards Crow’s Nest Peak.
• Northern Hills Ranger District will be burning hand and machine piles out near Jim Bogus Road and Nemo Road and East side of N. Rochford Rd.  

November 22, 2018

TeePee Gulch (4:09 pm)

• Located in the Rockerville area, Highway 16 and TeePee Rd
• Size: 5-10 acres 10.3 acres
  
• Federal, state and local resources responded. Dozer and handcrew have been requested.
• Cause unknown Under investigation
• Contained as of November 23rd, 11:36am

Long Draw Prescribed Fire Planned for West of Hill City, SD - 10/30/2018

Media Contact: Scott Jacobson

(605) 440-1409

 

 

Long Draw Prescribed Fire Planned for West of Hill City, SD

 

Rapid City, SD, October 29, 2018 – Black Hills National Forest Central Zone Fire is planning to burn 570 acres on the Long Draw project beginning Tuesday, October 30, weather permitting. Officials say the prescribed burn may take several days to complete. 

 

This project unit is located approximately 6 miles west of Hill City on the east side of Medicine Mountain Road; south of 6-mile road, and north of Reno Gulch Road.

 

The goal of the Long Draw Prescribed Fire is to establish and maintain a mosaic of vegetation conditions over the project area. This project will lessen the severity and extent of future wildfires in the project area by breaking up the continuity of dead, downed fuels, ultimately reducing fuel loads. Fire will also be utilized as a tool to thin pine regeneration and increase canopy base heights. Additionally, the burn will stimulate browse for big game species.

 

Smoke will be visible from Rapid City, Hill City, Custer, SD, surrounding areas and from Highway 16/385. Smoke will also be visible in the days following ignition and firefighters will remain on scene monitoring the burn for as long as needed.

 

Weather conditions will be monitored closely to assure prescribed fire conditions align with management objectives for the burn.

 

For more information on Black Hills National Forest prescribed fire, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/blackhills/fire/?cid=FSEPRD575179.

 

Follow Great Plains Fire Information online at: http://gpfireinfo.blogspot.com/ for current fire and prescribed fire updates.

 

Prescribed Burn at Fort Meade Recreation Area, 10/30 and 10/31, 2018

The Bureau of Land Management plans to prescribed burn 148 acres on the Fort Meade Recreation Area near the Old Fort Meade VA Cemetery today and Wednesday.  Crews will continue to monitor the burn through the week.  Burning will only take place if weather conditions are conducive to burning.  Assisting the BLM complete the burn will be resources from the Forest Service and Sturgis VFD.  Burn objectives will help reduce hazardous fuels accumulations, rejuvenate native plant species, and improve forage quality for wildlife and livestock.


Any questions in regards to this burn should be directed to the Bureau of Land Management Field Office at 605.892.7000.

As of 2:05 pm, firefighters are meeting objectives on the prescribed fire at Ft. Meade Recreation Area.
Photos by Travis Lipp.

 

Photo by Travis Lipp

 

Photo by Travis Lipp

Gobbler Prescribed Fire – October 25, 2018 – South of Chadron, NE

Fire managers on the Pine Ridge Ranger District will take advantage of favorable weather conditions to conduct a 180 acre prescribed fire, today, October 25th. 

According to Tim Buskirk, Pine Ridge District Ranger, “The two main objectives for the Gobbler prescribed fire are to reduce hazardous fuels and the pine encroachment in natural meadows.”

Fire is vital to maintain healthy forest and grasslands ecosystems. Prescribed treatments mimic natural fires by reducing forest fuels, recycling nutrients and increasing plant diversity. 

Prescribed fires are managed with firefighter and public safety as the first priority. “We’ve done a lot of work ahead of time to ensure control lines and resources are in place to safely and efficiently conduct this project,” Buskirk said. 

Smoke may be visible from Highway 385 and 20 and from the communities of Chadron, Hay Springs, and Crawford Nebraska.

For more information, please contact the Pine Ridge Ranger District at 308-432-0300 or visit the office at 125 N. Main Street in Chadron, Nebraska.