Cemetery Fire
Reported: December 21, 2023 at 10:34 am
Location: 1 mile southwest of Pringle
Resources: Federal and State
Size: 0.1 acre
Cause: Human
Current Status: Controlled
Thursday, December 21, 2023
Wednesday, December 20, 2023
December 20, 2023
Arrow Fire
Reported: December 20, 2023
Location: 1 mile southwest of Hermosa
Resources: State
Size: 0.1 acre
Cause: Human
Status: Out
Topaz Fire
Reported: December 19, 2023
Location: 4 miles southwest of Sturgis
Resources: Federal and State
Size: 0.1 acre
Cause: Under Investigation
Status: Out
Sidney Park Fire
Reported: December 16, 2023
Location: 1 mile south of Custer
Resources: Federal and State
Size: 0.12 acre
Cause: Under Investigation
Status: Controlled
Thursday, November 9, 2023
Black Hills National Forest to Conduct Prescribed Fires
November 14, 2023 at 5:30 pm - Today’s prescribed fires were successfully executed and resource objectives were met. Ignitions are now complete on both the Long Draw and Witch Prescribed Fires.
- The Long Draw Prescribed Fire accomplished 260 acres. Firefighters will continue to staff this burn overnight and tomorrow night, to monitor fire activity and mop up around the perimeter. Smoke is settling in the lower areas around the vicinity and is expected to dissipate tomorrow.
- The Witch Prescribed Fire accomplished 795 acres. Firefighters will monitor the perimeter of this burn until late in the evening as deemed appropriate and will continue to mop up the perimeter in the coming days.
Fire Managers are prepared for the predicted wind event on Wednesday evening and will staff appropriately. Both prescribed burns will be closely monitored in the coming days. Smoke may be visible and linger for several days.
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| Long Draw Prescribed Fire |
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| Long Draw Prescribed Fire |
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| Witch Prescribed Fire |
Custer, S.D., Oct. 10, 2023 – The Black Hills National Forest is planning to conduct two separate prescribed fires next week, weather dependent. The objectives of both fires are to enhance wildlife habitat and reduce hazardous fuel loads.
The Mystic Ranger District is planning
to conduct the Long Draw prescribed fire project November 13-16, 2023. The Long Draw project area is located
approximately 5 miles west of Hill City, SD.
The Hell Canyon Ranger District is
planning to conduct the Witch prescribed fire project November 14 and 15, 2023. The Witch project area is located
approximately 3 miles southwest of Pringle, SD. Alternative funding sources
were provided to this project by grants from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
and the National Wild Turkey Federation.
Resource objectives for both fires are
focused on enhancing forage for big game wildlife, restoring open forest
conditions dominated by ponderosa pine, and reducing fuel loading. Removal of
encroaching trees from meadows helps maintain the native plants that grow in
these areas and provides forage for wildlife.
“We’re continuing the use of
prescribed fire to enhance wildlife habitat and increase public safety,” said Shea
Koch, Mystic Fuels Technician, Black Hills National Forest. “Without prescribed fire, forest ecosystems
can become overcrowded and contribute to extreme wildfires through the buildup
of combustible materials on forest floors.”
We are asking forest visitors and
hunters to avoid these areas during this time. Smoke from the prescribed fires
will be visible throughout the day of the fire and may linger for several days.
Firefighters will be on site throughout the day of ignition and will
periodically patrol the fires for several days afterward. If you see smoke from
these areas, please refrain from calling 911.
Prescribed fire specialists compare
current and predicted environmental conditions to those outlined in prescribe
fire plans before deciding whether to implement on a given day. Prescribe fire
plans include 21 separate elements including Goals & Objectives,
Prescription (weather and fire behavior), Holding plans, and Contingency
planning. A prescribed fire will not be ignited unless the conditions meet
the criteria described in the written plan.
For more information on the Black
Hills National Forest, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills.
USDA
is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Thursday, October 19, 2023
Bureau of Land Management to Conduct Prescribed Burns - Fort Meade Recreation Area & Englewood Area
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will continue two separate prescribed burns located at the Fort Meade Recreation Area and the in Englewood area near Sugarloaf Mountain. Pending appropriate weather and seasonal conditions, burning will take approximately two to three days in the following locations:
- Starting Friday, October 20 at the Fort Meade Recreation Area, 258 acres are planned for treatment. The burn location will be ½ mile north of the Alkalai Creek Campground. The prescribed burn will be highly visible from Interstate 90, South Dakota Highway 34, South Dakota Highway 79, and the city of Sturgis. The BLM Horse Soldier Road will remain open. Fire Managers are asking users to avoid stopping along this road while burning is taking place.
- On Saturday, October 21 and Sunday, October 22, plans are to conduct a 219 acre prescribed burn in the Englewood area near Lead. The burn location will be east of the Powder House Pass Subdivision. This prescribed burn will be highly visible from Lead, Deadwood, and South Dakota Highway 85.
Prescribed burning is taking place to reduce hazardous fuels accumulations, maintain and enhance native plant species, and retain and expand key habitat for wildlife species. Prescribed fire is a key component to protecting nearby private property and homes, and to aid fire suppression, tactics, and strategies in the event of an unplanned wildfire.
Engines and personnel supporting the BLM in this burn include the Black Hills National Forest, State of South Dakota Wildland Fire, local VFDs, Rapid City Fire Department, and the Rapid City Fire Department Veterans Crew.
Fort Meade Recreation Area 
Fort Meade Recreation Area
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Black Hills National Forest to Postpone Prescribed Burn near Pringle, SD
Custer, S.D., Oct. 20, 2023 – The Hell Canyon Ranger District on the Black Hills National Forest has decided to postpone the Witch Prescribed Burn that was scheduled to start today. After careful evaluation of weather patterns and fuel moisture, fire management personnel determined conditions did not meet the required criteria outlined in the prescribed fire burn plan.
Careful planning goes into prescribed burns, which are used for long-term forest health. Clearing built-up fuels and overgrowth is essential in mitigating the risk for large-scale wildfires in the future. This will allow fire managers to continue to mitigate wildfire risk and create a healthier forest.
Each prescribed burn conducted by the Black Hills National Forest has a detailed burn plan developed well in advance that includes environmental analysis. A burn plan specifies conditions and criteria that must be met prior to initiating the burn. Safety is the primary focus when considering a prescribed burn and conditions.
“Every prescribed burn is closely coordinated with the weather forecast,” said Todd Hoover, Hell Canyon Fire Management Officer, “As forecasts change, we adjust our plans to accordingly to conduct a safe burn.”
Fire managers will continue to look for opportunities to conduct this prescribed burn in the future.
Custer, S.D., Oct. 18, 2023 – The Hell Canyon Ranger District on the Black Hills National Forest is planning to conduct the Witch prescribed fire project October 20 and 21, 2023, weather dependent. The objectives of the prescribed burn are to enhance wildlife habitat and reduce fuel loads.
The Witch project area is located approximately 3 miles southwest of Pringle, SD. We are asking forest visitors and hunters to avoid the area during this time. Smoke from the prescribed burn will be visible throughout the day of the burn and may linger for several days. Firefighters will be on site throughout the day of ignition and will periodically patrol the burn for several days afterward. If you see smoke from this burn, please refrain from calling 911.
Alternative funding sources were provided by grants from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the National Wild Turkey Federation. Specific project objectives are focused on enhancing forage for big game wildlife, restoring open forest conditions dominated by ponderosa pine, and reducing fuel loading. Removal of encroaching trees from meadows helps maintain the native plants that grow in these areas and provides forage for wildlife.
“These prescribed fire projects are designed to mimic the natural fire return interval and restore natural fire intensities,” said Todd Hoover, Hell Canyon Fire Management Officer, Black Hills National Forest. “Reducing fuel loading will decrease future wildland fire intensity and severity, lowering the risk of negative impacts to ecosystems, cultural resources, and communities that can result from uncharacteristically severe wildfires.”
Prescribed fire specialists compare current and predicted environmental conditions to those outlined in burn plans before deciding whether to burn on a given day. Burn plans include 21 separate elements including Goals & Objectives, Prescription (weather and fire behavior), Holding plans, and Contingency planning. A prescribed burn will not be ignited unless the conditions meet the criteria described in the burn plan.
###
USDA is an equal
opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Bureau of Land Management to Conduct Prescribed Burn at Fort Meade Recreation Area
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is planning to conduct a 238 acre prescribed burn at the Fort Meade Recreation Area on Tuesday October 10, 2023, weather dependent. The burn will be north of the National Cemetery on the west side of Interstate 90. The prescribed burn will be highly visible from Interstate 90, the National Cemetery, and the city of Sturgis.
Friday, October 6, 2023
Black Hills National Forest to Conduct Prescribed Burn
Update for Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 4:15 PM
Ignitions were successful and objectives were met on the Anti-horse Prescribed Burn today. Firefighters will continue to closely monitor the burn area until it is determined extinguished. Smoke will continue to be visible in the area for several days. Ignitions are complete and additional burning will not take place tomorrow.
Update for Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 9:00 AM
The Hell Canyon Ranger District successfully conducted a prescribed burn yesterday and will continue burning an estimated 1,600 acres today. The project area is located approximately 18 miles west of Custer, SD or 2 miles northwest of Jewel Cave National Monument.
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| Photo taken from Boles Canyon and Highway 16. Photo credit: Todd Hoover, Black Hills National Forest. |
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| Photo credit: Todd Hoover, Black Hills National Forest |
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| Photo credit: Todd Hoover, Black Hills National Forest |
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| Photo credit: Todd Hoover, Black Hills National Forest |
Custer, S.D., Oct. 6, 2023 – The Hell Canyon Ranger District on the Black Hills National Forest is planning to continue broadcast burning the Anti-horse prescribed fire project October 9-11, 2023, weather dependent. The purpose of the project is to reduce hazardous fuels on National Forest System (NFS) lands.
The Anti-horse project area is located approximately 18 miles west of Custer, SD or 2 miles northwest of Jewel Cave National Monument. The current unit includes Dead Horse Flats and Dead Horse Spring. We are asking forest visitors and hunters to avoid the area during this time. Smoke will be visible for several miles and poor visibility could impact Highway 16 west of Custer.
Crews have been preparing perimeter lines on this project for the past few years so fire equipment and personnel can safely implement the project to meet land management objectives. Reducing future fire intensity by consuming left over dead and down material from the Jasper fire in 2000 is a primary goal of the prescribed fire. “By removing these fuels, wildfires will not burn as aggressively in a treated area,” said Todd Hoover, Hell Canyon Fire Management Officer, Black Hills National Forest. “This gives firefighters increased suppression opportunities to safely and effectively engage a wildfire incident.”
Prescribed fire decreases surface fuel loading and is a key component to protecting 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 current and predicted environmental conditions to those outlined in burn plans before deciding whether to burn on a given day. Burn plans include 21 separate elements including Goals & Objectives, Prescription (weather and fire behavior), Holding plans, and Contingency planning. A prescribed burn will not be ignited unless the conditions meet the criteria described in the burn plan.
For more information on the Black Hills National Forest, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills.
USDA
is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Saturday, September 23, 2023
September 23, 2023
Vanocker Fire
Reported: September 23, 2023; 9:00 a.m.
Location: 6 miles south of Sturgis, SD
Resources: Federal
Size: 0.1 acre
Cause: Human
Status: Out, 9:45 a.m. September 23, 2023
Thursday, September 21, 2023
September 21, 2023 (updated 4:30 pm)
Elk Shed Fire
Reported: September 21, 2023; 10:30 a.m.
Location: ~7 miles southeast of Chadron, NE
Resources: Local
Size: 0.1 acre
Tuesday, September 19, 2023
September 18, 2023
Charger Fire
Reported: September 18, 2023; 2:40 p.m.
Location: 12 miles northwest of Crawford, NE
Resources: Federal, Local
Size: 1
Cause: Human
Status: Controlled, 8:00 p.m., September 18
Sunday, September 17, 2023
September 17, 2023
Comanche Park
Reported: September 17, 2023; 1:05 p.m.
Location: W of Custer, SD
Resources: Federal, State, Local
Size: 0.1
Cause: Human
Status:
Erin Creek
Reported: September 13, 2023; 1:26 p.m.
Location: SE of Custer, SD
Resources: Federal, State, Local
Size: 0.1
Cause: Human
Status: Controlled
Hazel
Reported: September 13, 2023; 7:06 p.m.
Location: 3 Miles SE of Custer
Size: 0.1 acre
Resources: Federal, State
Cause: Lightning
Status: Controlled
Bjornland
Reported: September 13, 2023; 1:11 p.m.
Location: 5 miles W/NW of Deerfield Lake
Size: 0.93 acre
Resources: Federal, State, Local
Cause: Lightning
Status: Controlled
Raptor
Reported: September 12, 2023; 8:40 a.m.
Location: 4 miles E of Rockerville, Pennington County
Size: 0.1 acre
Resources: Federal, State, Local
Cause: Lightning
Status: Contained
Thursday, September 14, 2023
September 14, 2023
Erin Creek
Reported: September 13, 2023; 1:26 p.m.
Location: SE of Custer, SD
Resources: Federal, State, Local
Size: 0.1
Cause: Human
Status: Controlled
Crow Creek
Reported: September 13, 2023; 10:12 p.m.
Location: Crow Creek Rd/Homestake Rd, Lawrence County
Resources: Federal, State, Local
Size: 0.1
Cause: Lightning
Status: Out
Hazel
Reported: September 13, 2023; 7:06 p.m.
Location: 3 Miles SE of Custer
Size: 0.1 acre
Resources: Federal, State
Cause: Lightning
Status: Contained
Bjornland
Reported: September 13, 2023; 1:11 p.m.
Location: 5 miles W/NW of Deerfield Lake
Size: 0.93 acre
Resources: Federal, State, Local
Cause: Lightning
Status: Contained
Raptor
Reported: September 12, 2023; 8:40 a.m.
Location: 4 miles E of Rockerville, Pennington County
Size: 0.1 acre
Resources: Federal, State, Local
Cause: Lightning
Status: Contained
Parmlee Canyon
Reported: September 11, 2023; 2:39 p.m.
Location: 14 miles N of Summit Ridge Lookout, Pennington County
Size: 0.1 acre
Resources: Federal, State
Cause: Lightning
Status: Controlled
Tenderfoot
Reported: September 9, 2023; 10:32 p.m.
Location: 43.839450, 103.674200
Size: 0.1 acre
Status: Out
Summit Springs Fire
Reported: September 9, 2023; 10:43 a.m.
Location: 2 miles northeast of Summit Ridge Lookout
Size: 0.1 acre
Resources: Federal
Cause: Lightning
Status: Out
Wildcat Fire
Reported: September 6, 2023; 4:13 p.m.
Location: 12 miles southwest of Deerfield Lake, Pennington County, SD
Size: 26.5 acres
Resources: Federal, State, Local
Cause: Lightning
Status: Controlled
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