December 21, 2023

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

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

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.  

November 14, 2023 at 11:00 am- Ignitions have begun for both the Long Draw and Witch Prescribed Fires. 

Long Draw Prescribed Fire

Long Draw Prescribed Fire

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.

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.

 Resources will stay on scene at both burn locations throughout the next several days to patrol and secure the fire perimeters until the prescribed burns are declared out.

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.

 For additional information on these prescribed burns, please contact Travis Lipp at 605-210-0741.

 

Fort Meade Recreation Area

Fort Meade Recreation Area

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.

 For more information on the Black Hills National Forest, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills.

 

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

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. 

 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.  Resources will be on scene throughout the next several days to patrol and secure the fire perimeter until the prescribed burn is declared out.

 Engines and personnel supporting the BLM in this burn include the USFS, State of South Dakota Wildland Fire, local VFDs, and Rapid City Fire Department Veterans Crew.

 For additional information on this prescribed burn, please contact Nathan Wiedow at 605-891-3804.

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. 

Photo taken from Boles Canyon and Highway 16. Photo credit: Todd Hoover, Black Hills National Forest.

Photo credit: Todd Hoover, Black Hills National Forest

Photo credit: Todd Hoover, Black Hills National Forest

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.

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

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

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

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

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