Applee Tree Prescribed Fire Planned November 2 & 3 in Custer State Park

The South Dakota Department of Agriculture’s Wildland Fire Division, Custer State Park and South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks are planning to ignite the Apple Tree prescribed fire on Wednesday, Nov. 2. Ignition will continue Thursday, Nov. 3, as conditions allow.

Firefighters are planning on burning approximately 624 acres. This project is located in Custer State Park, off of the southern end of the Wildlife Loop Road.

This interagency prescribed fire is a cooperative effort with grant funding provided by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. This grant funding helps meet land management objectives that otherwise could not have been accomplished due to budget constraints.

Objectives of the burn are to improve wildlife habitat, provide quality forage and reduce hazardous fuels in an effort to create and maintain a forested landscape that inhibits the spread of unwanted fire to the crowns of trees. Weather conditions will be monitored closely to ensure prescribed fire conditions align with management objectives for the burn.

Prescribed fire is used to maintain healthy native vegetation and is needed to prevent the encroachment of invasive species. Fire also reduces the hazardous buildup of debris and dead vegetation which can fuel wildfires.

Smoke may be visible in the surrounding areas, and can linger for several days after ignition has been completed. Fire crews will secure, patrol and monitor fire lines as appropriate for public and firefighter safety. For more information on smoke management visit:  http://gpfireinfo.blogspot.com/p/smoke-management.html. 

Long Draw Prescribed Fire near Hill City, SD - Nov. 1 & 2

11/2/16 

• 11:45 a.m. - Test fire was successful, ignitions have begun on the Long Draw Rx.
• 11:20 a.m. - Firefighters have ignited the Long Draw test fire.

11/1/16 

• 6:00 p.m. - Long Draw Prescribed Fire Update: Ignitions were completed on the Long Draw rx approximately 5:30 p.m. today. Fire officials said the prescribed fire went as planned and are planning to continue with this prescribed fire tomorrow, Nov. 2, weather permitting.

• Long Draw prescribed fire photos are posted online at: https://www.facebook.com/blackhillsnf/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1699090527018210

• 12:30 p.m. - The Long Draw RX has been ignited

10/31/16 
Black Hills National Forest Central Zone Fire is planning to ignite 1,100 acres on the Long Draw project on Tuesday & Wednesday, November 1 & 2, weather permitting.

This project is located approximately 5 miles south west of Hill City, SD near Newton Fork Road, south of Reno Gulch road, Odakota Mountain and west of the Medicine Mountain Boy Scout Camp.

The goal of the Long Draw Prescribed Fire is to establish and maintain a mosaic of vegetation conditions over the project area. This project will lessen the severity and extent of future wildfires in the project area by breaking up the continuity of dead, downed fuels, ultimately reducing fuel loads. Fire will also be utilized as a tool to thin pine regeneration and increase canopy base heights. Additionally, the burn will stimulate browse for big game species.

"Low intensity fire benefits the landscape by cleaning the forest floor and destroys diseases and insects that prey on trees," said Adam Ziegler, Burn Boss Trainee. "It provides valuable nutrients that enrich the soil and heat needed for seed germination."

Fire reduces competition for nutrients by removing debris and weaker trees and allows established trees to grow stronger and healthier.

Smoke will be visible from Rapid City, Hill City, Custer, SD, surrounding areas and from Highway 16/385. Smoke will be visible in the days following ignition and firefighters will remain on scene monitoring the burn for as long as needed.

Weather conditions will be monitored closely to assure prescribed fire conditions align with management objectives for the burn.

For more information on Black Hills National Forest prescribed fire, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/blackhills/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=STELPRDB5112694

Long Draw Prescribed Fire near Hill City, SD

11/2/16 

• 1:15 p.m. - 40% ignition completed.
• 11:45 a.m. - Test fire was successful, crews plan to ignite 300 acres today.
• 11:20 a.m. - Firefighters have ignited the Long Draw test fire.

11/1/16 

• 6:00 p.m. - Long Draw Prescribed Fire Update: Ignitions were completed on the Long Draw rx approximately 5:30 p.m. today. Fire officials said the prescribed fire went as planned and are planning to continue with this prescribed fire tomorrow, Nov. 2, weather permitting.

• Long Draw prescribed fire photos are posted online at: https://www.facebook.com/blackhillsnf/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1699090527018210

• 12:30 p.m. - The Long Draw RX has been ignited

10/31/16 
Black Hills National Forest Central Zone Fire is planning to ignite 1,100 acres on the Long Draw project on Tuesday & Wednesday, November 1 & 2, weather permitting.

This project is located approximately 5 miles south west of Hill City, SD near Newton Fork Road, south of Reno Gulch road, Odakota Mountain and west of the Medicine Mountain Boy Scout Camp.

The goal of the Long Draw Prescribed Fire is to establish and maintain a mosaic of vegetation conditions over the project area. This project will lessen the severity and extent of future wildfires in the project area by breaking up the continuity of dead, downed fuels, ultimately reducing fuel loads. Fire will also be utilized as a tool to thin pine regeneration and increase canopy base heights. Additionally, the burn will stimulate browse for big game species.

"Low intensity fire benefits the landscape by cleaning the forest floor and destroys diseases and insects that prey on trees," said Adam Ziegler, Burn Boss Trainee. "It provides valuable nutrients that enrich the soil and heat needed for seed germination."

Fire reduces competition for nutrients by removing debris and weaker trees and allows established trees to grow stronger and healthier.

Smoke will be visible from Rapid City, Hill City, Custer, SD, surrounding areas and from Highway 16/385. Smoke will be visible in the days following ignition and firefighters will remain on scene monitoring the burn for as long as needed.

Weather conditions will be monitored closely to assure prescribed fire conditions align with management objectives for the burn.

For more information on Black Hills National Forest prescribed fire, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/blackhills/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=STELPRDB5112694

Whaley Prescribed Fire Photos

Photos from today's (10/28/16) Whaley prescribed fire are posted online at: https://www.facebook.com/blackhillsnf/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1696866997240563

Whaley prescribed fire

Night shift fire crews are monitoring the Whaley prescribed fire tonight (10/28/16).

(Whaley rx photo by Brandon Selk, Black Hills National Forest)

The Whaley prescribed fire has been ignited near Hill City, SD today, Oct. 28, 2016. 

Rifle Pit Prescribed Fire Cancelled in Northern Black Hills

Rifle Pit Prescribed Fire Cancellation Photos

Spearfish, SD – The Black Hills National Forest Rifle pit prescribed fire planned for today, October 27, 2016 was cancelled.

Crews initiated a test burn this morning to determine if burn objectives would be met if the full burn were initiated. Although conditions in the field were meeting the prescription in the burn plan, burn objectives did not appear that they would be met due to weather and fuel conditions being on the low end of the prescription.

The burn plan identifies parameters under which fuels should burn to meet objectives safely, such as temperature, humidity, wind, moisture of the vegetation, and conditions for the dispersal of smoke. Fire specialists compared observations of the test fire to the objectives in the burn plan, and determined that the results were not as expected.

The test burn was extinguished and crews remained on scene to monitor any residual smoke.

For more information on Black Hills National Forest prescribed fire, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/blackhills/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=STELPRDB5112694

Prescribed Fire Planned Friday, October 28, 2016 near Hill City, SD

Rapid City, SD – Black Hills National Forest Central Zone Fire is planning to ignite 345 acres on the Whaley project on Friday, October 28, weather permitting.

This project is located approximately 1.25 miles north east of Hill City, northwest of the Three Forks junction of Hwy 385 and US 16.

Weather conditions will be monitored closely to assure prescribed fire conditions align with management objectives for the burn.

Objectives of the burn are to reduce hazardous fuels in an effort to create and maintain a forested landscape that inhibits the spread of unwanted fire to crowns of trees. The burn will also provide additional forage for wildlife species.

Smoke may be visible from Hill City and Rapid City, South Dakota and surrounding areas, and can linger for several days after ignition has been completed. Forest Service crews will secure, patrol, and monitor fire lines for as long as needed. For more information on smoke management visit: http://gpfireinfo.blogspot.com/p/smoke-management.html.


For more information on Black Hills National Forest prescribed fire, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/blackhills/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=STELPRDB5112694