December 22nd, 2025

 Buckhorn Fire

Date Reported: 12/22/25 Time: 6:01 PM

Location: approximately 1 mile west of Custer

Size: 0.40 Acre 

Jurisdiction: Private

Resources:  Federal, State & Local

Cause: Under Investigation

Status: Forward progress stopped. 

 Booms Fire

Date Reported: 12/22/25 Time: 5:06 PM

Location:  Fall River County, approximately 7 miles Northwest of Hot Springs

Size: 0.10 acre 

Jurisdiction: Federal

Resources: State & Local

Cause: Under Investigation

Status: Forward progress stopped. 

  Stan Mark Fire

Date Reported: 12/22/25 Time: 3:50 PM

Location: 2 miles South of Keystone, South Dakota

Size: 5.5  Acres 

Jurisdiction: Private/ State

Resources:  Federal, State & Local

Cause: Under Investigation; Investigator on scene

Status: Forward progress stopped; fire resources will be on scene all night and tomorrow.  

(Photo Credit: Sean Weber)

(Photo Credit: Sean Weber)

December 19th, 2025

Cowboy Fire

Date Reported: 12/19/25 Time: 3:53 PM

Location: Hill City, Pennington County,  South Dakota

Size: 0.50 Acres 

Jurisdiction: Forest Federal

Resources:  Federal, State & Local

Cause: Human; Under Investigation

Status: Initial Attack 

 Saratoga Fire

Date Reported: 12/19/25 

Location: Black Hawk, Meade County, South Dakota

Size: 0.10 Acres 

Jurisdiction: Private/ State

Resources: State & Local

Cause: Human 

Status: Out

 Rocky Top Fire

Date Reported: 12/19/25 Time: 6:45 AM

Location: Black Hawk, Meade County, South Dakota

Size: 0.45 Acres 

Jurisdiction: Private/ State

Resources: State & Local

Cause: Under Investigation; Investigator on Scene

Status: Forwarded Progress Stopped

  Rams Head Fire

Date Reported: 12/19/25 Time: 9:28 AM

Location: 2 miles north of Spearfish, Lawrence County, SD

Size: 0.25 Acres 

Jurisdiction: Private/ County

Resources: Federal & Local

Cause: Human

Status: Contained at 11:01 AM

December 18th, 2025

 Tomaha Fire

Date Reported: 12/18/25 

Location: 3 miles southwest of Johnson Siding, Pennington County, SD

Size: 0.10  Acres

Jurisdiction: Private/ State

Resources: State & Local

Cause: Human

Status: Contained, Controlled, Out

  Donkey Fire

Date Reported: 12/18/25  Time: 4:51 PM

Location: 2 miles southwest of Black Hawk, Meade County, SD

Size: 0.10  Acres

Jurisdiction: Private/ State

Resources: State & Local

Cause: Human

Status: Contained, Controlled, Out

  Pony  Fire

Date Reported: 12/18/25 

Location: 1 mile South of Custer, SD

Size: 0.10  Acres

Jurisdiction: Private/ State

Resources: State & Local

Cause: Human

Status: Controlled 

  Buffalo Butte Fire

Date Reported: 12/18/25 Time: 02:55 AM

Location: 1 mile Southwest of Argyle, Custer County, SD

Size: 0.10  Acres

Jurisdiction: Private/ State

Resources: State 

Cause: Human

Status: Contained 

  Funk Fire

Date Reported: 12/18/25 Time: 09:53 AM

Location: 3 miles North of Funk, NE

Size: 3.0  Acres

Jurisdiction: Private/ State/ FWS -Updated 12/19/25

Resources: Federal & Local

Cause: Human - Update 12/19/25

Status: Contained -Updated 12/19/25

Greyhound Fire

 

Fire Update – Greyhound Fire

December 19, 2025

Firefighters continue suppression efforts today on the Greyhound Fire. The fire has remained at 166 acres, and containment has increased to 75%. Crews are focused on strengthening containment lines, securing the perimeter, and monitoring for any remaining hotspots to ensure progress and firefighter safety.

 ( Photo Credit: Cece Lepa)

                      

( Photo Credit: Cece Lepa)

  Greyhound Fire

Date Reported: 12/17/25 Time: 2:43 PM

Location: Pennington County, 2 miles East of Keystone, SD

Size: 166 Acres updated: 12/18/25

Jurisdiction: Federal

Resources: Federal, State, and Local

Cause: Under Investigation

Status: 75% Contained updated: 12/19/25

Additional Information: 

The Greyhound Fire is 2-3 miles south of Keystone and is moving east. It is currently at 150 acres. Highway 40 and Playhouse Road are closed due to firefighter activity.

There are currently evacuations along Highway 40 between Playhouse Rd and Rushmore Ranch Rd, expanding 2 miles north.

Please abide by law enforcement officers if you are given an evacuation notice. There are currently 15-20 engines, and two Hot Shot Crews working on the fire, and more resources are being ordered.

For up-to-date Highway 40 wildfire information, please monitor the Pennington County Public Safety Hub.

https://pennco.org/publicsafetyhub

(Photo Credit: Pennington County Sheriff Office)

Skyline Drive Fire

 Fire Update – Skyline Drive Area

Road/Fire Update: Skyline Drive will remain closed for an unspecified amount of time as Black Hills Power works to repair downed power lines. Fire crews will remain on scene throughout the night to monitor hotspots and ensure the fire remains contained.

Update: Fire is contained at 2 acres.

Fire Update – Skyline Drive Area

Just after 1:30 p.m., RCFD responded to reports of multiple fires in the Skyline Drive area. Three fires turned into two, after two of them combined…reported to be related to downed power lines. A caller also reported a possible electrical transformer explosion. The exact cause remains under investigation.

Current Status:

• Crews have stopped forward progress

• Handlines are being placed around the fire

• No structures are threatened

• No evacuations at this time

Resources on scene include:

Rapid City Fire Department, RCFD Module Crew, State Wildland resources, Whispering Pines & Rapid Valley Volunteer Fire Departments.

Due to ongoing operations and downed power lines, please avoid the area to allow firefighters to work safely.

We will provide updates as information becomes available.

                                                (Photo Credit: Rapid City Fire Department)

December 17th, 2025

  Windy Fire

Date Reported: 12/17/25 Time:12:28 PM

Location: 4 miles North of Aladdin, Crook County, WY. 

Size: 3.1  Acres

Jurisdiction: Crook County

Resources: Federal and Local

Cause: Human 

Status: Controlled at 1335 PM

December 16th, 2025

   Steamboat Fire 

Date Reported: 12/16/25 Time:11:58 AM

Location: 6 miles north of Pactola Lake and 1 mile south of Nemo, Lawrence County, South Dakota. 

Size: .25 Acres

Jurisdiction: State

Resources: State and Local

Cause: Under Investigation, Investigator is on scene

Status: Contained; Controlled at 1400 ; Out  updated-12/19/25

November, 25th, 2025

  Playhouse Fire 

Date Reported: 11/25/2025 Time: 10:40 AM

Location: 4 miles Southwest of Hayward, SD in Custer County ; 1 mile south of Lakota Lake

Size: 2.9 Acres

Jurisdiction: Federal 

Resources: Federal, State and Local

Cause: Under Investigation, Fire Investigator Enroute

Status: Out 

Playhouse Road is closed from Iron Mountain Road to the Center Lake Campground turn-off area for firefighter and public safety. Follow Custer County South Dakota Emergency Management for road closure updates

                                Photo credit: Custer County South Dakota Emergency Management

November, 24th, 2025

  Longview Fire 

Date Reported: 11/24/2025 Time: 13:05 PM

Location: Pennington County, East of Rapid City, SD

Size: 30.8 Acres 

Jurisdiction: Private / County

Resources: State and Local

Cause: Human

Status: Contained

November, 16th, 2025

   Three Forks Fire 

Date Reported: 11/16/2025 Time: 2:57 PM

Location: 2 miles North East of Hill City, SD

Size: 0.10

Jurisdiction: State/ Private

Resources: Federal and State

Cause: Under Investigation

Status: Controlled at 4:30 PM

Wyoming Bureau of Land Management Prescribed Fire

 Sherwood Prescribed Fire 

Date Reported: 11/15/2025 Time: 11:25 AM

Location: 6 miles North East of New Castle Wyoming

Size: 65 Acres

Jurisdiction: BLM

Resources: Federal, State, and Local

Firing Operations Started: 11:25 AM 

Status:

Wyoming BLM will be conducting a prescribed burn this weekend approximately six miles northeast of Newcastle (east of Beaver Creek Road and west of the state line). This managed event is intended to promote forest health and reduce future wildfire risk. Residents may observe heavy smoke in the area Saturday and Sunday which could linger into next week. Resources will remain on scene as needed throughout this period and will continue to monitor the fire for several days. The public is asked to please not call 911 to report this controlled burn or to inquire about its status, so as to not tie up our local Dispatchers unnecessarily. As public and firefighter safety remain top priorities, please avoid the area so fire resources can move about as needed.

November, 15th , 2025

 Water Draw Fire 

Date Reported: 11/15/2025 Time: 7:50 AM

Location: 4 miles South West of Jewel Cave

Size: 0.10

Jurisdiction: Forest

Resources: Federal, State, and Local

Cause: Under Investigation

Status: Controlled - updated

30 Point Fire 

Date Reported: 11/15/2025 Time: 1:47 PM

Location: Cherry County, NE - Steer Creek Natural Area, McKelvie Ranger District

Size: 50 Acres

Jurisdiction: FS-NBF

Resources: Federal, State, and Local

Cause: Under Investigation

Status: Unknown

November, 11th, 2025

 MM 52 Fire 

Date Reported: 11/11/2025 Time: 8:26 AM

Location:  Pennington County, Rapid City, South Dakota

Size: 0.10 Acres

Jurisdiction: Private/State

Resources: State and Local

Cause: Under Investigation

Status: Out

November, 5th, 2025

 Highway 36 Fire 

Date Reported: 11/05/2025 Time: 2:13 p.m.

Location:  Custer County, 3 miles WSW of Hermosa, South Dakota

Size: 3.58 Acres

Jurisdiction: Private

Resources: Federal, State, and Local

Cause: Undetermined, Fire Investigator on Scene

Status: Controlled

November, 4th, 2025

 Maverick Fire 

Date Reported: 11/04/2025 Time: 12:30 p.m.

Location:  7.9 miles southwest of Spearfish, South Dakota

Size: 0.10 Acre

Jurisdiction: Private

Resources: Federal, State, and Local

Cause: Human; Investigator on Scene

Status: Out 

 Highway 83 Fire 

Date Reported: November 4, 2025, at 1:55 p.m.

Location:  Cherry County, 10 Miles North of Thedford, NE 

Size: 1000 Acres

Jurisdiction: Private

Resources: Federal, State, and Local 

Cause: Undetermined

Status: Contained - 11/05/25 updated 

Jewel Cave National Monument

Lithograph Prescribed Fire

Date: October 25, 2025 

Operations: Started at 10:43 AM 

Location: Custer County, Jewel Cave National Monument, South Dakota 

Size: 145 Acres

The primary objective of the Lithograph Prescribed Fire is to reduce fuel loading. Prescribed fires help decrease the intensity of future wildfires and mimic the natural fire regimes of a mixed-grass prairie ecosystem. These fires are conducted carefully under specific, approved conditions. Factors such as humidity, fuel moisture, wind speed and direction, along with short- and long-range weather patterns, are all considered when establishing the acceptable conditions for conducting a prescribed fire. 

The National Park Service personnel will assist with the prescribed fire, supported by other interagency resources. Traffic control will be implemented along Highway 16 to direct vehicles, as fire personnel will be working alongside the roadside. During the prescribed fire, smoke may be heavy at times along Highway 16 and in the town of Custer. Additionally, other impacts on park operations are expected, but efforts will be made to minimize visitor disruptions.

Wind Cave National Park

  Lookout Flats Prescribed Fire

Date: October 24, 2025 

Operations: Started at 10:30 AM 

Location: Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota 

Size: 1100 Acres

The primary objectives of the Lookout Flats Prescribed Fire are to reduce fuel loading, decrease encroachment of young ponderosa pine onto the prairie, and increase cover of native forbs. Prescribed fires help decrease the intensities of future wildfires and mimic the natural fire regimes of a mixed-grass prairie ecosystem. 

Smoke may be heavy at times along highways 385 and 87 and visible from the surrounding region. Hwy 385 between the north and south access roads into the park headquarters will be closed, with traffic routed through the visitor center parking lot. 

The Lookout Point, Highland Creek, and Wind Cave Canyon Trails will be closed during firing operations and longer if necessary. For additional information, visit: www.nps.gov/wica/learn/news/09232025pr.htm

( Photo Credit: Wind Cave National Park ) 

Schenk Prescribed Fire

 

October 23, 2025 – The Bureau of Land Management is planning to conduct the Schenk prescribed fire project on Friday, October 24, weather dependent. Approximately 680 acres will be burned if conditions warrant.  The Schenk project area is located approximately 5 miles southwest of Jewel Cave National Monument. 

The objectives of this prescribed fire are to reduce forest density and hazardous fuels accumulations that could make suppression efforts difficult to control during the summer months. As well as remove insect-weakened trees and minimize the risk of unwanted wildfire that could move onto private lands. 

Prescribed fire is also used in multiple existing meadows to rejuvenate grasses, forbs, and shrubs, to benefit grazing, while reestablishing meadow boundaries by reducing pine, and spruce encroachment. 

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 burns for several days afterward. If you see smoke from this burn, please refrain from calling 911.

For more information contact Travis Lipp, Fire Management Specialist, at (605) 210-0741. 

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