Long Draw Prescribed Fire near Hill City, SD - Nov. 1 & 2

11/2/16 

• 11:45 a.m. - Test fire was successful, ignitions have begun on the Long Draw Rx.
• 11:20 a.m. - Firefighters have ignited the Long Draw test fire.

11/1/16 

• 6:00 p.m. - Long Draw Prescribed Fire Update: Ignitions were completed on the Long Draw rx approximately 5:30 p.m. today. Fire officials said the prescribed fire went as planned and are planning to continue with this prescribed fire tomorrow, Nov. 2, weather permitting.

• Long Draw prescribed fire photos are posted online at: https://www.facebook.com/blackhillsnf/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1699090527018210

• 12:30 p.m. - The Long Draw RX has been ignited

10/31/16 
Black Hills National Forest Central Zone Fire is planning to ignite 1,100 acres on the Long Draw project on Tuesday & Wednesday, November 1 & 2, weather permitting.

This project is located approximately 5 miles south west of Hill City, SD near Newton Fork Road, south of Reno Gulch road, Odakota Mountain and west of the Medicine Mountain Boy Scout Camp.

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.

"Low intensity fire benefits the landscape by cleaning the forest floor and destroys diseases and insects that prey on trees," said Adam Ziegler, Burn Boss Trainee. "It provides valuable nutrients that enrich the soil and heat needed for seed germination."

Fire reduces competition for nutrients by removing debris and weaker trees and allows established trees to grow stronger and healthier.

Smoke will be visible from Rapid City, Hill City, Custer, SD, surrounding areas and from Highway 16/385. Smoke will 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 http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/blackhills/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=STELPRDB5112694

Long Draw Prescribed Fire near Hill City, SD

11/2/16 

• 1:15 p.m. - 40% ignition completed.
• 11:45 a.m. - Test fire was successful, crews plan to ignite 300 acres today.
• 11:20 a.m. - Firefighters have ignited the Long Draw test fire.

11/1/16 

• 6:00 p.m. - Long Draw Prescribed Fire Update: Ignitions were completed on the Long Draw rx approximately 5:30 p.m. today. Fire officials said the prescribed fire went as planned and are planning to continue with this prescribed fire tomorrow, Nov. 2, weather permitting.

• Long Draw prescribed fire photos are posted online at: https://www.facebook.com/blackhillsnf/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1699090527018210

• 12:30 p.m. - The Long Draw RX has been ignited

10/31/16 
Black Hills National Forest Central Zone Fire is planning to ignite 1,100 acres on the Long Draw project on Tuesday & Wednesday, November 1 & 2, weather permitting.

This project is located approximately 5 miles south west of Hill City, SD near Newton Fork Road, south of Reno Gulch road, Odakota Mountain and west of the Medicine Mountain Boy Scout Camp.

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.

"Low intensity fire benefits the landscape by cleaning the forest floor and destroys diseases and insects that prey on trees," said Adam Ziegler, Burn Boss Trainee. "It provides valuable nutrients that enrich the soil and heat needed for seed germination."

Fire reduces competition for nutrients by removing debris and weaker trees and allows established trees to grow stronger and healthier.

Smoke will be visible from Rapid City, Hill City, Custer, SD, surrounding areas and from Highway 16/385. Smoke will 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 http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/blackhills/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=STELPRDB5112694

Whaley Prescribed Fire Photos

Photos from today's (10/28/16) Whaley prescribed fire are posted online at: https://www.facebook.com/blackhillsnf/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1696866997240563

Whaley prescribed fire

Night shift fire crews are monitoring the Whaley prescribed fire tonight (10/28/16).

(Whaley rx photo by Brandon Selk, Black Hills National Forest)

The Whaley prescribed fire has been ignited near Hill City, SD today, Oct. 28, 2016. 

Rifle Pit Prescribed Fire Cancelled in Northern Black Hills

Rifle Pit Prescribed Fire Cancellation Photos

Spearfish, SD – The Black Hills National Forest Rifle pit prescribed fire planned for today, October 27, 2016 was cancelled.

Crews initiated a test burn this morning to determine if burn objectives would be met if the full burn were initiated. Although conditions in the field were meeting the prescription in the burn plan, burn objectives did not appear that they would be met due to weather and fuel conditions being on the low end of the prescription.

The burn plan identifies parameters under which fuels should burn to meet objectives safely, such as temperature, humidity, wind, moisture of the vegetation, and conditions for the dispersal of smoke. Fire specialists compared observations of the test fire to the objectives in the burn plan, and determined that the results were not as expected.

The test burn was extinguished and crews remained on scene to monitor any residual smoke.

For more information on Black Hills National Forest prescribed fire, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/blackhills/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=STELPRDB5112694

Prescribed Fire Planned Friday, October 28, 2016 near Hill City, SD

Rapid City, SD – Black Hills National Forest Central Zone Fire is planning to ignite 345 acres on the Whaley project on Friday, October 28, weather permitting.

This project is located approximately 1.25 miles north east of Hill City, northwest of the Three Forks junction of Hwy 385 and US 16.

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

Objectives of the burn are to reduce hazardous fuels in an effort to create and maintain a forested landscape that inhibits the spread of unwanted fire to crowns of trees. The burn will also provide additional forage for wildlife species.

Smoke may be visible from Hill City and Rapid City, South Dakota and surrounding areas, and can linger for several days after ignition has been completed. Forest Service crews will secure, patrol, and monitor fire lines for as long as needed. For more information on smoke management visit: http://gpfireinfo.blogspot.com/p/smoke-management.html.


For more information on Black Hills National Forest prescribed fire, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/blackhills/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=STELPRDB5112694

Prescribed Fire Planned in Northern Black Hills

Custer, SD, October 26, 2016 – Forest Officials from the Northern Hills Ranger District on the Black Hills National Forest are planning to burn approximately 190 acres on the Rifle Pit Prescribed Fire Project units 1 and 2 tomorrow, Thursday, October 27, depending on weather. Smoke will be visible for several miles and may persist for several days.

The Rifle Pit units are approximately 3 miles southeast of Cement Ridge Lookout on the South Dakota/Wyoming Line off Wagon Canyon Road (FS 805.3).

Objectives of the burn are to reduce surface and ladder fuels that contribute to crown fire hazard, thereby protecting nearby homes, while also providing fire managers safe and effective areas in which to manage future wildland fires. Additional goals include providing diverse ecosystems and improving big game and songbird/raptor habitat. This area has experienced heavy bark beetle mortality, and prescribed fire will help move conditions towards restoring this landscape.

Prescribed fire specialists compare conditions on the ground to those outlined in burn plans before deciding whether to burn on a given day. A prescribed burn will not be ignited unless the conditions meet the criteria described in the burn plan.

Forest visitors, including hunters, are asked to be aware of their surroundings and watch for prescribed burning operations in the months ahead. Areas where burning operations are taking place will be signed to notify visitors. The public is also encouraged to contact a nearby Forest Service office with questions.

Fire officials will continue to monitor the fire through the weekend.

For more information on Black Hills National Forest prescribed fire, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/blackhills/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=STELPRDB5112694

Prescribed Fire Planned in Southern Black Hills National Forest

Custer, SD – The Hell Canyon Ranger District on the Black Hills National Forest is planning to ignite 1,500 acres on the Anti-Horse prescribed fire project Tuesday, October 25 - Wednesday, October 26, depending on weather. Smoke will be visible for several miles and could impact Highway 16 west of Custer, SD. Crews have been preparing to implement the project to meet management objectives for several years.

The Anti-Horse project area, located approximately 18 miles west of Custer, SD or 2 miles northwest of Jewel Cave National Monument, focuses on treating Forest Service land to reduce hazardous fuels.

Prescribed fire is an important tool in reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire across the landscape. It allows fire managers to reintroduce fire, using lower fire intensities, to reduce hazardous fuel accumulations on the forest floor.

Hazardous fuels reduction will help to protect nearby private property and homes, and to aid fire suppression, tactics and strategies in the event of an unplanned wildland fire.

Prescribed fire also encourages new growth in forage for wildlife and cattle, maintains many plant and animal species whose habitats depend on periodic fire, minimizes the spread of pest insects; removes unwanted species that threaten species native to an ecosystem and recycles nutrients back to the soil.

Prescribed fire specialists compare conditions on the ground to those outlined in burn plans before deciding whether to burn on a given day. A prescribed burn will not be ignited unless the conditions meet the criteria described in the burn plan.

Forest visitors, including hunters, are asked to be aware of their surroundings and watch for prescribed burning operations in the months ahead. Areas where burning operations are taking place will be signed to notify visitors. The public is also encouraged to contact a nearby Forest Service office with questions.

As conditions permit, fire officials will continue to assess ignition of other prescribed burn units across the Black Hills National Forest.

For more information on Black Hills National Forest prescribed fire, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/blackhills/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=STELPRDB5112694

Cottonwood Fire

Cottonwood Fire (CA - County Assist)

Reported:  Oct 16, 2016, 1:00 pm
Located:  Approximately 15 miles east of Wall on I-90

Fire Information:

The PIO is located at the Minuteman Missile Visitor Center

Contact:  (605) 863-0061
or
Login to:  pcimt3.blogspot.com

October 16, 2016

Bald Wildfire

Reported: 10:48 am
Location: Bald Hill area between Pactola and Sheridan Lake
Size: 2.75 acres
Resources: Federal, State and Local
Cause: Unknown

Battle Mountain Fire

Update 7:30 p.m. 

Battle Mountain fire is now 100% contained!

Due to more accurate mapping, the fire is reduced to 20.7 acres. 

Tomorrow Local and State crews will continue mop up efforts. 

Update 2:08 p.m. 

Fire is now 90% contained. 

• Started on Friday, October 15 at 7:50 PM
• Local, State, and Federal resources responded
• 22.45 acres
• No structures threatened, no evacuations
• 60 % of the fire perimeter is surrounded by dozer and handline
• Fire investigator is on scene
• Today crews will continue working on 100% containment and mop up

Photo taken by Brady Rothschadl

Photo by Justin Evans

October 14, 2016

Rhubarb Wildfire:

Reported:  1:07 pm
Size:  .1 acre
Location: Behind Prairie Berry 2 miles east of Hill City
Resources:  Federal and Local resources responding
Cause: Tree fell on powerline

October 3, 2016

Recent Fires

Sep 29:
Black Gap Wildfire

• .45 acres
• Controlled
• Cause unknown 

Sep 30:

ORV Wildfire

• Location: 5 miles NW of Ft Pierre
• .6 acres
• Controlled
• Cause: unknown