Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Prescribed Fire ignited in Southern Black Hills

Oct. 21, 2013

Custer, SDSouth Dakota Wildland Fire Division, Custer State Park, Black Hills National Forest and Wind Cave National Park are continuing ignition on the Norbeck Section 2 prescribed fire today. 

The 1,938 acre project unit is located on State, Federal and private land and is approximately 4 miles northeast of Pringle, South Dakota.

The interagency prescribed fire is a cooperative effort with grant funding provided by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Officials said this grant funding helps meet land management objectives that otherwise could not have been accomplished due to budget constraints.

Objectives of the burn are to improve wildlife habitat, provide quality forage, and reduce hazardous fuels in an effort to create and maintain a forested landscape that inhibits the spread of unwanted fire to crowns of trees.

Some areas will be closed during implementation and include:
  • Highway 87 will be closed at the intersection of 87 and Road 341 
  • Intersection of Highway 87 and 391
  • NPS 5 will be closed at Highway 87 and NPS 5
  • Fourmile draw road (CSP 7) will be entirely closed
The closures will remain in effect from Monday, Oct. 20, beginning at 7 a.m. through Wednesday, Oct. 22, ending at 6 p.m.

Smoke may be visible from Custer, South Dakota and surrounding areas, and can linger for several days after ignition has been completed. Fire crews will secure, patrol, and monitor fire lines for as long as needed.

-30-

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Okreek Fire


  • Located in Mellette County east of Highway 53, four miles east of Bad Nation, SD
  • Size is estimated at 1,600 acres
  • Local volunteer fire departments and firefighters from state and federal agencies have responded
  • Forward progress of the fire has stopped at this time
  • The cause of the fire is under investigation
10/17/14
  • 1600 acres
  • 75% contained
  • remains under investigation

You can also find updated fire information on this incident at Wild Web (Copy and paste the link below into a browser then click on Recent Incidents):  http://www.wildcad.net/WCSD-GPC.htm