Palmer Gulch Fire

Nov. 15, 2022 - Palmer Gulch Fire Final Update: http://gpfireinfo.blogspot.com/2022/11/palmer-gulch-wildfire-final-update.html

Update as of 9:00 AM, November 3, 2022

Containment has increased to 75% and acreage remains at 88 acres.  

Today firefighters will continue mop up efforts by extinguishing hot spots and reinforcing the fireline. Tomorrow at 8:00 AM, a Type 4 organization will transition command as complexity is decreasing on this fire.  Resources will remain on scene working and monitoring the fire until it is deemed contained.  The public should expect to see smoke within the perimeter of the fire as the heavy dead and down fuels continue to burn.  

For public safety, many trails in the Black Elk Wilderness Area are also closed. Trail #2, #3, #4, #8, #9N, and #9S will be closed until further notice. The public is asked to avoid traveling on roads and trails in the vicinity of the fire for their own safety and the safety of firefighters.

Update as of 7:00 PM, November 2, 2022

Active burning within the interior of the fire line continued today within the dead and down fuels on the Palmer Gulch Fire. Firefighters continued to maintain the fire line, even with the high wind gusts.  

There were gains in containment today as the fire is now at 60%, and due to more accurate mapping size is determined to be 88 acres.  

Update as of 9:30 AM, November 2, 2022

Overnight, heavy dead and down fuels burned within the fire perimeter but the fire remained within containment lines.  The containment has been increased to 50% while the size remains at 87 acres. An estimated 112 personnel are assigned to the fire.  

Today firefighters will continue to reinforce fire line while remaining vigilant about overhead hazards such as snag trees.  Mop up operations continue as firefighters eliminate hot spots near the fire's edge.  

Initial attack support remains in place should a new fire ignite. Aircraft including helicopters, air attack, and Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs) remain as available resources to firefighters.

From the National Weather Service Spot Forecast:  Low humidity and gusty winds will continue resulting in Red Flag Conditions.  Southwest will increase to 20 to 30 mph by late morning or by noon, with gusts possibly as high as 45 mph. Some decrease in the winds is expected by mid afternoon, decreasing to 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. Winds will drop to 5-10 mph early this evening, then a strong cold front will push through around midnight, bringing gusty north winds. Gusts to 25 mph will be possible. Light snow is expected to develop after midnight tonight, along with temperatures dropping into the upper 20s by daybreak on Thursday. Light snow is also expected after midnight and will continue through the day on Thursday, but snow accumulations are expected to remain under one inch.

Update as of 5:30 PM, November 1, 2022

Today, firefighters were successful in their efforts to hold containment lines during the expected wind event. In addition, they continued to eliminate hazard trees (snags), strengthen line, and  mop up hot spots near containment lines.  Engines will staff the fire overnight.    

Tomorrow's planned action is to hold and reinforce fire line and mop up hot spots within the edge of the fire.  The public should expect to see smoke in the area; heavy dead and down fuels are burning in steep and rugged country.

Containment remains at 40% and 87 acres. 

Update as of 10:00 AM, November 1, 2022

Today, efforts will continue to suppress the Palmer Gulch fire, which has burning since Saturday within the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve, near the Black Elk Wilderness Area.

A Red Flag Warning is in effect from noon today to 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Low relative humidity and gusty southwest winds of 10 to 15 mph are expected this afternoon. Firefighters have been working diligently to strengthen containment lines in anticipation of this event. Hazard trees continue to be a safety concern for firefighters along with steep, rugged terrain.

Planned actions are also in place to support initial attack should a new fire ignite. Aircraft including helicopters, air attack, and Single Engine Air Tankers (SEATs) remain as available resources to firefighters.

An estimated 120 personnel are assigned to the fire as the containment stands at 40% and 87 acres.

Palmer Creek Road continues to be closed until further notice. For public safety, many trails in the Black Elk Wilderness Area are also closed. Trail #2, #3, #4, #8, #9N, and #9S will be closed until further notice. Smoke will continue to be thick in the area for the next several days. The public is asked to avoid traveling on roads and trails in the vicinity of the fire for their own safety and the safety of firefighters.

Update as of 5:00 PM, October 31, 2022 

Today, efforts continued to suppress the Palmer Gulch fire, which is burning within the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve, near the Black Elk Wilderness Area. Pleasant weather and moderate fire behavior allowed firefighters to continue to strengthen the lines around the fire. Nearly 100 personnel are assigned to the fire as the containment stands at 40%. Due to more accurate mapping, acreage has been updated to 87 acres.

“Forward progress of the fire has been stopped and crews are working to secure the fire perimeter in preparation for incoming weather” said Todd Hoover, Hell Canyon Ranger District’s Fire Management Officer. A Red Flag Warning is in effect due to dry, windy conditions with the weather forecast at the fire calling for highs in the 60s tomorrow and winds gusting from 20 to 30 mph Tuesday afternoon.

A road closure on Palmer Creek Road is in place until further notice. For public safety, many trails in the Black Elk Wilderness Area are also closed. Trail numbers #2, #3, #4, #8, #9N, and #9S trail will be closed until further notice. Smoke will continue to be thick in the area for the next several days. The public is asked to avoid traveling on roads and trails in the vicinity of the fire for their own safety and the safety of firefighters. 

Update as of 9:30 AM, October 31, 2022

Overnight firefighters held containment lines. The fire is now estimated at 92 acres and remains 40% contained.  The fire is burning in heavy dead and down fuels in steep terrain.  Heavy smoke and snags continue to be a concern for firefighters.  

A Fire Weather Watch has been issued by the National Weather Service for portions of southwestern and south central South Dakota from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday evening. Warm temperatures, low relative humidity values, and strong southwest to west winds may produce critical fire weather conditions Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday.  

Update as of 7:45 PM, October 30, 2022

Crews are working to suppress the Palmer Gulch wildfire burning approximately 3 miles southeast of Hill City, SD. The fire is estimated at 91 acres in size and is 40% percent contained.  A Type-III Incident Management Team led by Jason Rodriguez, Incident Commander, took over management of the fire at 8 am today.
 
Resources currently assigned to the fire include: one National Guard Blackhawk helicopter, four single engine air tankers (SEAT), one air attack, one ten-person fire suppression module, five water tenders, seventeen engines, and twenty-two overhead from Federal, State, and Local agencies.
 
Observed fire behavior includes active ground fire with 4 to 6 feet flame lengths and occasional tree torching. The fire has burned the valley bottoms along Palmer Creek Road and on the above timbered ridge with heavy dead and down fuels, moving towards the Black Elk Wilderness.
 
A road closure on Palmer Creek Road is in place until further notice. For public safety, many trails in the Black Elk Wilderness Area are also closed. Trail numbers #2, #3, #4, #8, #9N, and #9S trail will be closed until further notice. Smoke will continue to be thick in the area for the next several days. The public is asked to avoid traveling on roads and trails in the vicinity of the fire for their own safety and the safety of firefighters.

Photo credit: Black Hills National Forest

Photo credit: Black Hills National Forest

Photo Credit: Black Hills National Forest

Update as of 1:30 PM, October 30, 2022

The Palmer Gulch wildfire is located in Pennington County, 3 miles southeast of Hill City was reported on October 29, at approximately 1:00 pm. The cause is under investigation.  Federal, State, Local, and Air resources have responded and are on scene.

 

The fire is burning on Black Hills National Forest lands, near the Black Elk Wilderness. The fire burned actively throughout the night as crews worked to place handline around the fire. Currently, the fire is burning in heavy dead and downed timber and estimated at 60 acres.

 

A road closure on Palmer Creek Road is in place until further notice. For public safety, many trails in the Black Elk Wilderness Area are also closed. Trail numbers #2, #3, #4, #8, #9N, #9S and Cathedral Spires trail will be closed until further notice. Smoke will continue to be thick in the area for the next several days. The public is asked to avoid traveling on roads and trails in the vicinity of the fire for their own safety and the safety of firefighters.

Low winds will contribute to poor smoke dispersal for local communities. Cool temperatures and no precipitation are forecasted for the next several days until Wednesday when a cold front approaches the Black Hills.

Photo credit: Black Hills National Forest

Photo credit: Black Hills National Forest

Photo credit: Black Hills National Forest

Update as of 9:00 AM, October 30, 2022

An estimated 15 acres of fire growth took place overnight toward the wilderness.  

Resources today will include a fixed wing Air Attack platform and a National Guard helicopter.  Federal, state, and local firefighters will continue the interagency effort on the ground.  Firefighters will work on suppression and mop up efforts throughout the day.

Fire Weather Update from the National Weather Service:

Afternoon highs are forecast to reach the mid 60s to mid 70s, with minimum relative humidity values expected to fall into the 15 to 25 percent range. Strongest winds will likely occur across northeastern WY and south central SD, where sustained winds of 20 to 25 mph and gusts to around 35 mph will be possible. This combination of temperatures, relative humidity, and winds would lead to critical fire weather conditions. Similar conditions may linger across south central SD into Wednesday, though confidence is lower compared to Tuesday.

Update as of 6:00 PM, October 29, 2022

Estimated size is now 50 acres. The fire is currently being mapped; a more accurate number for acreage is anticipated momentarily. 

The Palmer Creek Road is closed and is expected to remain closed until at least tomorrow.

The Palmer Creek Trail is closed and will remain closed until it is deemed safe for the public. 

There are no evacuations in place.

An air attack platform flew the fire and reported that the State dozer was making good progress towards containment. Firefighters continue to suppress any active areas of the fire using fire line and engine work.

Two engines will staff the fire overnight and mop up is anticipated to continue the next couple of days.

A Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in place.  All aircraft - including drones - are prohibited from flying within the TFR. 

Update as of 3:12 PM, October 29, 2022

Estimated size is now 15 acres

Update as of 2:49 PM, October 29, 2022

Reported: 12:49 pm, October 29, 2022

Location: Black Elk Wilderness roughly near the Palmer Gulch Trailhead

Estimated size: 3-5 acres

Fuel Type: Grass and timber

Resources: Federal, state, and local.  A state dozer is enroute to assist.

Cause: Under investigation