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.
