For Immediate
Release:
April 13, 2016
Contact: Jeni Lawver,
605.381.7232
Swint
Well Prescribed Fire to Continue at Custer State Park
RAPID CITY, S.D.- The South Dakota Department of
Agriculture’s Wildland Fire Division, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, and
Custer State Park will continue the Swint Well prescribed burn in Custer State
Park. Firefighters are planning on burning approximately 800 acres.
This burn is scheduled to take place on Thursday, April
14. The Swint Well prescribed fire project is located in the southeast corner
of Custer State Park near the Wildlife Visitor Station.
Firefighters successfully completed 395 acres of Unit 1
in the Swint Well prescribed fire area and 595 acres in the South Fork area at
Custer State Park Tuesday.
Resource objectives for the burn include improving range
conditions and grass habitat for wildlife.
Prescribed fire objectives include providing the seasonal
firefighter work force the opportunity to improve their skills prior to fire
season, to provide for trainee firefighters to work on task books to become
qualified in positions in a more controlled manner with proper oversight of
qualified firefighters, and to provide interagency cooperation.
Benefits also include providing the opportunities to
improve relationships with adjacent property owners and agencies.
Prescribed fire is utilized to maintain healthy native
vegetation communities and is needed to prevent the encroachment of invasive
species. Fire also reduces the hazardous buildup of debris and dead
vegetation which can fuel wildfires.
Residents
and visitors in the surrounding area of the prescribed burn may see smoke. This
burn will primarily take place in grass fuels, so residual smoke should be
limited. The area will continue to be monitored by firefighters.
Additional
plans have been made with contingency resources in the event of an escape;
resources will be present to assist for an additional margin of safety.
Participating
agencies include: South Dakota Wildland Fire, South Dakota Game, Fish and
Parks, National Park Service, Custer State Park, Nebraska National Forests and
Grasslands and the Black Hills National Forest.
