Ghost Canyon

December 19, 2015 at 4:15 pm

• Located on private land approximately 6 miles west of Hermosa.
• Estimated size is 5 acres.
• Hermosa and Hayward VFD on scene and Forest Service is enroute.
• Human Caused (escaped burn piles).

Rock Chimney

Update December 9, 2015 at 3:15 pm

• Fire is 100% contained.

December 9, 2015 2:51 pm

• Located on private land approximately 1 mile south of Custer.
• Estimated size is 0.40 acres.
• State and Local resources are on scene.
• Human Caused (escaped burn piles).

Canyon

December 9, 2015

• Located on private land approximately 4 miles west of Blackhawk off of Nemo Road.
• Estimated size is 0.25 acres.
• State and Local resources are on scene.
• Human Caused (escaped burn piles).
• Fire is 100% contained.

Playhouse

Update December 7, 2015 at 8:45 am

• Contained on December 6, 2016 at 4:27 pm.
• Size 1 acre
• Firefighters will continue to mop-up today and work towards control.

December 6, 2015 at 2:30 pm

• Located on private land approximately 1.5 miles NE of Lakota Lake or 3 miles SE of Keystone.
• Reported at 11:54 am.
• Current estimated size is 1 acre.
• Local and State resources have responded, and a hand crew has been ordered.
• Human caused (escaped burn piles).

December 4, 2015

Pile burning west of Custer, SD near Lightning Creek Road.

Forest Service is on scene.

Fire activity is within the parameters identified for burning the piles.

Argyle Road Fire

Updated at 3:45

Estimated at 90% contained. Full containment expected in the next few hours. 

Updated at noon

Estimated containment at 20%

Updated on November 18 at 11:23 am

• Located approximately 1 mile south of Argyle, SD
• Estimated size is 5 acres
• Burning in grass and timber
• Local (VFD), State, and Federal resources are responding to include engines, hand crews, and a skid loader
• Structures are threatened
• Cause is under investigation

Black Forest Fire

Posted at 9:00 am on November 16th

• Located 3 miles south of Pactola Lake
• Estimated size is .3 acres
• Local, state, and federal resources responded
• A fire investigator will be on scene today

Quaal Road Fire

Updated at 5:50 pm

Size is 5.75 acres

Updated at 2:45 pm on October 21

• Size is now estimated at 5 acres
• Fire is burning in grass and timber

Quaal Fire - Photo taken by Callia Scott

Posted at 2:09 pm on October 21

• Located north of I-90 at mile marker 50 in Pennington County
• Estimated size is 3 acres
• Local, state, and federal resources are responding
• Cause is unknown

Quaal Fire - Photo taken by Kyle Huling

Nail Fire

-located southeast of Ft. Pierre near the Ft. Pierre National Grasslands on private land

-Estimated size is 29 acres

-local volunteer fire departments and a federal engine responded

-Cause is unknown

Baker Park Fire

Update as of October 19 at 10:20 am
-Baker Fire has been contained at 3.6 acres


-Located off of Highway 16 and Beretta Road

-Estimated size is 3 acres

-Rockerville, Whispering Pines, and Keystone Volunteer Fire Departments have responded along with state and federal engines

-Law Enforcement is on scene, cause is under investigation

Fire Update - October 2, 2015

A thunderstorm has moved through the area the past few hours and lit up some wildfires with lightning strikes.  Resources have responded to all listed incidents.  

Keyhole Dam Fire

• Located in Crook County, Wyoming
• Estimated size .1 acres

Long Branch Fire

• Located near Sugar Loaf Butte in the Oglala National Grasslands in Nebraska
• Estimated size is 6.55 acres

Muddy Fire

• Located in the Mud Springs Road area in Custer County
• Estimated size is .1 acre

Tlustos Fire

• Located in the West Black Banks area in Fall River County
• Estimated size is 80 acres

McKenna Fire

• Located off of Hell Canyon Road in Custer County
• Estimated size is .1 acre

Incident #6

• Located approximately 1 mile north of Pilger Mountain in Fall River County
• Size up is currently in progress

Updated information can also be found by checking Great Plains Dispatch WildWeb page at: http://www.wildcad.net/WCSD-GPC.htm  

Stagebarn Fire

-Located an estimated 5 miles west of Black Hawk on the Black Hills National Forest

-Estimated size is 2 acres

-Resources are on scene include volunteer fire departments, state and federal engines, and the state Bear Mountain Hand Crew

-Cause is unknown, a Fire Investigator is on scene

-Plans include overnight staffing

Hood Fire

• Located near Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park
• .1 acre
• Caused by lightning
• Resources responded

Woodville Wildfire

Location: Lawrence County Quarry .. exemption area - BLM.
Reported at: 12:32 pm
Size: .1 acre
Cause: under investigation
Resources Responded.

Lone Tree Fire

Location: 5 miles north of Whitney, NE
Size: 1788 acres
Resources: Nebraska NF, SD wildland fire, Nebraska VFD's
Contained at 1430 hrs
Cause: round baler on private in hay field.

Baldy Fire

Baldy Fire

Location: in Lawrence County, west of iron Creek Lake and Old Baldy Road
Reported at:  12:20 pm
Size: .10 acre
Cause: Unkown
Resources Responded.  Fire is contained

Wildfires September 10, 2015

Harney Fire

Location:  Black Elk Wilderness Area near Norbeck Trail #2 and Harney 9s
Time Reported:  9:59 am
Size:  .10 acre
Cause:  Abondoned campfire


Klondike Fire

Location:  Near Klondike Road and Highway 16 in Pennington County
Time Reported:  11:30 am
Size:  .10 acre
Cause:  Pile burning

August 30, 2015

Sugarloaf

1:47 Pm

Sundance, Wy

0.1 acre

Resources have responded

Pactola

12:49 Pm

Pennington Co 

Victoria Lake rd. and Hwy 385 

0.7 acre

Controlled 2:51 Pm

Several small lightening caused wildfires in Crook County, WY on Aug 26th

August 26, 2015

Ipy

9:45 Pm

0.1 acre

Crews responded

Left Creek

8:15 Pm

0.1 acre

Crews responded

Williams

7:45 Pm

4.5 acres

Crews responded

Tom Cat Creek

5:15 Pm

19.1 acres

Crews responded

Adams Road

5:00 Pm

12.5 acres

Crews responded

Kara Circle

4:30Pm

0.1 acre

Crews Responded

Fred

August 27, 2015 1:55 PM

• Nine miles WSW of Sundance
• Crook County, WY
• 1.4 acres
• Crews Responded

Squaw Creek

Squaw Creek

Aug 26, 2015, 10:00 pm
Squaw Creek Rd. Custer County
.1 Acre
Private Land
Crews responded

August 22, 2015

• Jenny Gulch
• Pennington County, Jenny Gulch area
• .10 acre
• Federal, State and VFD's responded
• Downed power line
• Controlled 

August 15 and 16, 2015

Several small lightening caused wildfires from Aug 15th 7 PM.

WINDMILL
CUSTER COUNTY, EAST OF FAIRBURN  6 MILES SD 
2 Acres
Crews responded

ROUGH ROAD
CUSTER COUNTY, EAST OF FAIRBURN SD
1 Acre
Out

PASS CREEK
Argyle Area, SD
12.5 
Contained



August 16th 8:13 AM
HAM
JACKSON CO, Hwy 44, MM 126, SD
.1 Acre
Crews responded

1:16 pm
BELLE
NW OF MONA, CROOK COUNTY, WY
.25 Acres

August 14, 2015

McCance CA
Wildfire
12:28
50 Acres
Dakota Junction and Hwy. 385, Nebraska
Crews responded fire is out

Aug 13, 2015

ROAD CREEK 2
Wildfire
1.1 Acres
CROOK COUNTY WY, NORTH OF BANK LAND AREA

Crews responded

August 12, 2015

8:31 am
JAY
Wildfire
2 miles north of Nemo on Vanocker Canyon Road, SD
1.37 acres
Crews Responded and the fire is containd.

11:46

Strawberry
Wildfire
.1 acre (campfire)
Hideaway Lane south of Steel Wheel, SD
Crews Responded and the fire is out.


#3
Jim Creek Area
False Alarm

August 11, 2015 

7 pm
ROAD CREEK
Wildfire
SW of Sunny Divide, WY
2 Acres
Crews Responded

Aug 11, 2015

LIME CREEK
2 acres
9 miles north of Aladan WY
Crews responded

GARFIELD CA
1.95 acres
2 miles north of Pierre, SD
Crews responded


Aug 10, 2015
PIPELINE
2 Acres
West of Hulette, WY
Crews responded

Medicine Lake

Aug 9, 2015, 6:30 pm
Medicine Lake Ranch
.1 Acre
Private Land
Crews responded
Contained 8/10/15

G Valley Fire

• .01 acre, private land
• North of I-90, Government Valley, east of Sundance, WY
• Cause: lightning
• Controlled: 9:45 p.m. 08/08/15

Dump Fire

• .10 acre
• North of Iron Creek Lake
• Caused by tree falling on powerline
• Local, State and Federal resources responded
• Controlled at 7:50 p.m.

Bear Ridge Fire

Update: Controlled at 2 a.m. 08/09/15

• .25 acres, large hay stack fire
• Private land 4 miles south of I-90 Exit 2
• Local VFD and Federal resources responded
• Cause: lightning

Cemetery RD Fire

Update:  Controlled at 3:30 p.m. 08/08/15

• Initial dispatch: 12:30 p.m. Mountain Time, 08/08/15
• 17 miles south of Ft. Pierre, SD, west of Sheriff Dam
• 3 acres
• Private land
• Local VFD and Federal resources responded
• Cause: Farming equipment

More Fires from Recent Lightning

Update 10 a.m., Saturday, 08/08/15: 
All of the 8 wildland fires starting in BHNF region on Thursday 08/06/15 have been declared in controlled status. The final 2 to do so include:

Brown Canyon Fire

• .5 acre
• Public land, Weston Co., WY, 4 miles east of Highway 85
• Controlled: 6:45 p.m. 08/07/15

Lind Gulch Fire 

• 1.3 acres
• South of Mystic, SD on public land
• Controlled 6:51 p.m. 08/07/15

_________________________________________________________________________________

Update 3:00 p.m. Friday, 08/07/15: All but two of yesterday's fires are now under controlled status. Those that remain in contained status as of this update include: Lind Gulch Fire and Clifton Fire.

Putnam Dam Fire

• 36 Acres
• Private land
• Controlled:12:30 p.m. 08/07/15

Valley Creek Fire

• 1 acre
• Public land
• Controlled: 12:17 p.m. 08/07/15

Hat Fire

• .51 acres
• South of Jewel Cave, Public land
• Controlled 2:38 p.m. 08/07/15

Brush Buck Fire

• 2 acres
• West of Alladin, WY along Hay Creek Rd.
• Private land
• Controlled 8:30 p.m. 08/06/15

Lind Gulch Fire 

• 1.3 acres
• South of Mystic, SD on Public land
• Contained 10:50 p.m. 08/06/15, anticipating Control by end of day 08/07/15

_______________________________________________________________________________

Update 10:00 a.m. Friday, 08/07/15:
There were a total of 8 new fires that started throughout the Black Hills region on Thursday: 5 in South Dakota, 3 in Wyoming. All were lightning caused holdovers from the previous evening, with local volunteer, State and Federal resources responding. Special thanks to all of the out-of-area resources brought in by the Black Hills National Forest and Bureau of Land Management from Wyoming and Colorado, lending valuable support in the initial attack of these incidents. Information on these fires will continue to be updated as details become available.

Crews containing the Lind Gulch Fire, 08/06/15
Photo: Jim Burk

Putnam Dam Fire

• 36 Acres
• Private land
• Contained 9:30 a.m. 08/07/15

Clifton Fire

• 4.5 acres
• Southwest of Elk Mtn.
• Public land

Valley Creek Fire

• 1 acre
• Public land
• Contained: 8:12 p.m. 08/06/15

Griffis Well

• .01 acre
• Public land 8 miles west of Pringle, SD
• Controlled: 8:37 p.m. 08/06/15

Lind Gulch Fire 

• 1.3 acres
• South of Mystic, SD on Public land
• Contained 10:50 p.m. 08/06/15

Lind Gulch Fire from spotting scope at
Custer Peak Fire Lookout
Photo: Jon D. Anderson

_________________________________________________________________________________

Recent lightning activity caused several more fires throughout the Black Hills today (08/06/15) with local volunteer, State and Federal resources responding. The largest was the Putnam Dam Fire located north of Edgemont, SD. Names, sizes, status and established jurisdiction of these fires will continue to be updated as details become available.

Hat Fire

• .51 acres
• South of Jewel Cave 
• Public land

Putnam Dam Fire

• 15 acres
• Approx. 14 miles north of Edgemont 

Brush Buck Fire

• 2 acres
• West of Alladin, WY along Hay Creek Rd.
• Private land

Incident #7

• North of Slate Dam

Incident #8

• Southeast of Four Corners, Weston Co., WY, East of Highway 85

Clifton Fire

• 4 miles southwest of Elk Mountain in Weston Co., WY

Valley Creek Fire

• 1 acre
• 6 miles southwest of Custer, SD

Lagoon Fire

• .10 acre inside Custer State Park
• Lightning caused
• State resources responded
• Controlled 1:08 p.m.

Southern Hills Fires

Fire Updates - August 6, 2015 at 10:33 am

Correction:  Jurisdiction has now been established on the Southern Hills Fires and notated in the posts below.

Incident #8  has been found on private land, just east of Custer State Park, that fire will be sized up this morning.  Updated information will be posted as received.



Fire Updates - August 5, 2015 at 10:19 pm

Lightning caused a rash of several small fires in the southern Black Hills of South Dakota on Wednesday evening (8/5/15). All were located on State owned lands, with local volunteer, State and Federal resources immediately responding.

North Flat Top Fire

• 1.14 acres northwest of Edgemont
• Controlled at 8:01 p.m.
• Private Land 

Dry Creek Fire

• .10 acre northeast of Edgemont
• Controlled at 8:00 p.m.
• Private Land 

Triangle Fire

• Single tree snag
• Controlled at 8:30 p.m.
• Custer State Park 

West Fire

• .10 acre west of Edgemont
• Controlled at 8:01 p.m.
• Private Land 

Sleeper Fire

• 2.79 acres northwest of Edgemont in the Dewey area
• Controlled at 9:31 p.m.
• Private Land 

Triangle Flats Fire

• .10 acre near Custer Highlands
• Controlled at 10:00 p.m.
• Federal land

Delzer-CA Fire

• 2.6 acre grass fire on private land 
• Approx. 3 miles north of Spearfish
• Local Volunteer and Federal resources responded
• Cause: Power line failure
• Controlled at 5:50 p.m. on 8/5/15

BHNF Flags at Half-Staff

In memory of Dave Ruhl, the Black Hills National Forest firefighter who died last week fighting the Frog Fire in Northern California, U.S. and Forest Service flags on the Forest have been authorized to fly at half-staff until sunset on Aug. 6.

This shot was taken today from Custer Peak Fire Lookout south of Lead/Deadwood.

Iron Fire

• Along Old Iron Creek Road on USFS property near Spearfish Canyon
• Abandoned campfire
• .10 acre
• Local and Federal resources responded
• Controlled and out at 3:02 p.m. on 8/1/15

Big Bowl Fire

1 mile NE of Edgemont

Size: .14 acre

Ownership: Private

Resources Responding: State and Edgemont VFD

Cause: Downed Power Line

Contained 4:07 pm, Controlled 4:30 pm  

Report Released on Wind Cave’s Cold Brook Fire

After an interagency review involving fire management specialists from across the country, the National Park Service released the report today on the Cold Brook Fire. The Cold Brook Fire started from a spot fire that escaped a planned prescribed fire at Wind Cave National Park on April 13, 2015.  You can view the report at: http://bit.ly/ColdBrookRX

 

Red Butte Fire

• Near Gillette Canyon area on Monday evening, 7/27/15
• .10 acre, Black Hills National Forest
• Cause: Lightning
• State and Federal resources responded
• Contained at 20:27, controlled at 21:01

Highline Fire

* Highline Fire -6:40 PM
* 1 mile S. of Pringle, SD - 0.6 acres
* Cause - down power line
* Federal & local resources responded

Kelly Fire

*  Kelly Fire reported by Lawrence County Sheriff 7/26/2015 at 2:15 AM
*  On a 2-track road off Kelly Spur, Vanocker Canyon Road
*  <0.1 acres US Forest Service land
*  100% Controlled at 5:30 AM
*  Human caused

Bench Fire 7/23

Bench Fire Update - 7/24/15 AM
*  Fire fully contained 7/23 at 5:50 PM
*  2.6 acres on private property
*  Resources cleared 7/23 at 6:45 pm



*  Bench Fire reported at 12:19 p.m. on 7/23/15
*  Located in Fall River county:  1 Mile south of Parker Peak; 3 miles south of Minnekahata.
*  2.0 acres, Grass - active ground fire
*  Ownership unknown at this time
*  State and federal resources,  one helicopter and two overhead aircraft from Hell's Canyon
*  Cause - Lightning
*  No values at risk
*  1:45 pm report good progress on fire and establishing line around it

Gravel Fire

• 1/2 acre near Creston Sand Pit
• Approximately 48 miles east of Hermosa on Buffalo Gap National Grassland
• Local and Federal resources responded
• Reported on 7/17/15 at 5:15 p.m., controlled at 7:30 p.m.

Tubbs Dam Fire

• 11.5 acres in Nebraska Grasslands
• 100% contained at 14:30
• Cause: downed power line
• Local Volunteer, State and Federal resources responded

Custer Mountain Fire

Reported at11:59 am

Location:  Behind Triple T Trailer Court, 3 miles east of Custer, SD

0.10 acre

Resources Responded

Cause under investigation

Fire contained at 12:45 pm and controlled at 1:15 pm 

HAY STACK CA 7-2-15

• Hay stack fire near Dewey
• State and VFD resources responded
• .10 acre
• Cause unknown

RAILROAD TRACK

• Grass fire on the west side of I-90, mile marker 50
• Size .10 acre
• State and VFD resources on scene
• Cause unknown

UPDATE: Wildcat Fire

6/26/2015  9:20pm

Fire size has been reduced to 5 acres.

This beautiful image was just received from a Bear Mountain Handcrew member:

Photo Credit- Seth McReynolds

Wildcat Fire

Reported at 3:17pm, Friday June 26th

Location: 3 miles south of Elk Mountain Lookout

Resources Responding:  3 federal engines, 2 South Dakota state handcrews, 1 Wyoming state handcrew, and 1 Wyoming state helicopter

Size is approx. 10 acres and burning on Forest Service lands and cause is unknown.  There are no structures threatened at this time.

Graham Cracker

• June 22, 2015 
• Hannah Camp Ground area
• USFS resources responded
• Abandoned camp fire
• .10 acres
• Out

Fire June 10, 2015

*  Mica Fire, Northwest of Custer, SD, south of Woodford Road
*  Power line is smoking - a tree fell on it
*  Resources BH 632 and a chaser
*  Fire contained at 9:05 AM and controlled at 9:20 AM

Dry Lake Fire

•  June 3, 2015
• Tree snag 2 miles southwest of Elmore on Black Hills National Forest 
• Contained at 2:15 p.m.
• USFS resources responded
• Cause: lightning

Rochford Ridge Fire

• Reported at 7:59 a.m.,  June 3, 2015
• Located East of Rochford Road, south of Englewood
• Contained at .1 acre
• Federal and State resources responded
• Cause: lightning

Fire May 22, 2015

North Marina Fire

• Reported at 6:49 pm, May 22, 2015
• Located at Pactola Lake, North Boat Launch upper parking lot. Fire burning in grass.
• Contained at .1 acre
• Resources responding; Black Hills National Forest engines, VFD
• Cause; unkown at this time. Fire investigator ordered.

Fire April 25, 2015

#1 Berretta Fire

• Reported at 1:08 pm.  
• Location Hwy 16 and Berretta Road, approximately 1 mile in from Hwy 16
• Size 5 acres
• Resources responding: Multiple VFD's, Black Hills National Forest Engines and SDWLF
• Cause:  Unkown

Fire April 22, 2015

Redwater CA Fire

• Reported 1:08 pm 
• Location upper Red Water Road, north of Spearfish, SD
• Size:  1.8 acres
• Resources reponding, SDWF Engine and Black Hills NF Engine
• Cause:  Unkown at this time.

Fires April 16th, 2015

Update at 3:00 pm 4/16/15

Denke Fire

• Reported 11:22 am, April 16, 2015
• Located 25 miles north of Wall, SD.  North of Creighton Road
• Size:  200 Acres
• Resources Responding
• Cause unkown at this time.

Interstate Fire

• Reported 2:38 pm, April 15, 2015
• Located near Draper, SD along North side of Interstate 90
• Size:  Contained at 30 acres.

Fires April 14th, 2015

April 15, 2015 update on 3 fires 18 miles west of Fort Pierre on Hwy 34

1.  220 Street Fire contained at 200 acres.  Cause Semi Truck Brakes
2.  Cottonwood Fire contained at 120 acres.  Cause Semi Truck Brakes
3.  MM 194 Fire contained at 20 acres.  Cause Semi Truck Brakes.

April 14, 2015

• 3 separate fires reported 18 miles West of Fort Pierre along Highway 34
• Reported approximately 3:00 pm
• Size:  200 acres, 120 acres, 20 acres
• Resources responding
• Cause unknown at this time.

Cold Brook Fire

APRIL 15 UPDATE:
The Rocky Mountain Type 2 Incident Management Team (Team Black) has been cancelled and will not be assuming command of the Cold Brook Fire.  Please continue to visit the sites listed on the Large Incidents page for information on this incident.

April 14 at 8 pm:  Information for Cold Brook Fire has been posted to Large Incidents Page.

April 14 at 11 am: Cold Brook Unit Fire Update

APRIL 14 UPDATE: 
A Rocky Mountain Type 2 Incident Management Team (Team Black) has been ordered for the Cold Brook Fire.  Once the Team has assumed command of the fire, information links for this incident will be posted to the Large Incidents page of this blog.


Cold Brook Prescribed Fire Escapes

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT Tom Farrell, Wind Cave National Park, 605-745-1130.

Wind Cave National Park ignited the 1,000 acre Unit 2 Cold Brook Prescribed Fire this morning, April 13, 2015.

At approximately 1:00 pm, a fire whirl carried embers across the road into tall grass, the wind came up and the fire took off.  No estimate on size or containment at this time.

Tatanka Hotshots are on scene. Additional Federal and State resources have been ordered to include VFD's.

Fires April 10, 2015

C Cross Fire

• Reported at 12:53 pm
• Location:  Pine Creek Area - Crook County, WY
• .75 acres
• Resources Responded
• Cause under investigation

Fires April 9th, 2015

Spirit Canyon Fire

• Reported at 2:34 pm
• Located in Fall River County.  Pilger Mt. Road and Spirit Canyon Road
• .8 acre
• Resources Responded
• Cause under investigation

Forest Road Fire Pit

• Reported at 10:03 am
• Located in Fall River County.  Cascade Road to Forest Road
• .1 acre
• Resources  Reponded
• Cause under investigation

Line Creek Fire

4:30 pm update - The fire reported near Dewey is called the Line Creek Fire. .5 acre in size, located 1.5 mile N of Dewey in Weston County, WY. Black Hills National Forest resources responding. SD Wildland Fire resources returned.


2:40 pm - Fire near Dewey in Fall River County. USFS and SD Wildland Fire engines are responding at this time. No other information available at this time. Further information on this fire to follow.

Moonshine Fire

Online information on the Moonshine Fire can now be found on InciWeb at:  http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4159/  

Fire Information Lines: 
406.548.1174 and 406.366.9274
__________________________________________________

March 31, 2015 Fire Report

Ft. George Fire

• Located southeast of Fort Pierre, on Lower Brule Agency
• Size is estimated at .2 acre
• Resources responded

Incident #2 - Named Fisherman Flats

• Located 1 mile southwest of the Custer State Park Airport
• Size is estimated at .1 acre
• This fire has been knocked down and contained
• State resources responded
• Firefighters will continue mop-up this afternoon and evening

Alexander Fire

Located in the Palmer Gulch area
1/4 acre in size
Local and federal resources on scene
Cause is a down power line
Contained
20 to 30 mph winds reported

Sheep Draw Fire

Jonathan Moor is now the Public Information Officer 

assigned to the Sheep Draw Fire. 

Media and public can reach him at: 406.366.9274.

______________________________________________________

Update provided at 5:55 PM on April 2, 2015

• As of 6:00 PM the Sheep Draw Fire is 100% contained
• This fire continues to be in mop up, patrol, and rehab status
• Investigation of cause is ongoing

Update provided at 9:06 PM on April 2, 2015

• 85% Contained
• This fire is now in patrol and mop up status
• The Incident Commander is currently working with local ranchers and the volunteer fire department
• The fire remains under investigation

Update provided at 3:07 PM on April 1, 2015

 U.S. Forest Service Wildland Firefighters monitor smoldering logs in high winds at the Sheep Draw Fire. High winds have kept logs and stumps burning, however the crews have managed to keep the fire from spreading any further.  (photo Jonathan Moor)

Kevin Woster, a Reporter with KELO Rapid City, collects b-roll footage of a burning log at the Sheep Draw Fire. The 13,949-acres fire drew the attention of a number of regional media outlets including print, radio and television. (photo Jonathan Moor)

Update provided at 11:48 PM on April 1, 2015

• Size remains at 13,949 acres
• 70% contained, although an increase in containment is expected 
• 35-45 mph winds currently over the fire with gusts up to 50 mph
• Fireline is holding well against the winds
• Fire Managers have started to demob equipment and hand crews
• Rehab efforts are currently taking place on the interior dozer line
• The public can expect to see interior smoke until we receive significant precipitation

Photos updated at 8:15 PM on March 31, 2015

Photos taken by Jonathan Moor at the close of the day today.

A few pockets of smoke linger in the draws and coulees.

 However, firefights have managed to achieve 70 percent containment.

This barn still stands at sunset after the Sheep Draw Fire passed close by.

Photos updated at 5:48 PM on March 31, 2015

Photos taken by Air Attack who flew over the fire today.

What a difference a day makes - this is the northeast flank of the fire.

Some smoke still visible coming from interior portions of the fire.

Update provided at 4:16 PM on March 31, 2015

• Size is now estimated at 13,949 acres
• The fire is now 70% contained
• One non-commercial structure was burned. The structure was a protective shed for a natural gas well. The gas well caught fire the first day and was put out by the first night. 

Update provided at 12:06 PM on March 31, 3015

• As of 6:00 PM last night, two Dozers met and tied in the line around the fire (one from the north and one from the south)
• The successful burnout operation ended at 10:00 PM last night
• No injuries of both firefighters and the public have been reported 
• This fire is burning mainly on public and private land with a small portion of Bureau of Land Management Land

Fact Sheet updated at 11:54 on March 31, 2015

Size            10,200 acres (as of 8 a.m. March 31, 2015) Type 3 Incident

Started      March 28, 2015

Location    7 mi. East, 12 mi. South of Camp Crook, SD

Cause        Unknown (under investigation)

Incident Command Post      At Harding VFD Station  (mobile trailer)

Incident Commander           Jim Strain

Public Information Officer   Jonathan Moor

            cell (406) 366-9274       jmoor@blm.gov

Lead Agency      Division of Wildland Fire, South Dakota Dept. of Agriculture

Supporting Agencies

• South Dakota National Guard
• U.S. Bureau Of Land Management
• U.S. Forest Service
• South Dakota Highway Patrol
• Harding County: Sheriff’s Office; Emergency Management; Board of Commissioners

Personnel  111

Vehicles

• 2 Type-1 Helicopters (South Dakota National Guard)
• 1 King Air 90 Twin Engine Fixed Wing Air Attack Platform (State of South Dakota)
• 2 Road Graders
• 3 Bulldozers
• 4 Water Tenders
• 13 Type-6 Engines
• 2 Type-4 Engines

Incident Objectives

• Ensure Public and Firefighter safety at all times
• Hold fire west of Harding Road
• Hold fire north of Collins Road
• Protect grazing, timber, and sagebrush values north of West Short Pines Hills

Map updated at 11:41 AM on March 31, 2015

Photos updated at 10:44 AM on March 31, 2015

Sheep Draw Fire

Photo updated at 7:08 PM on March 30, 2015

Sunset at the Sheep Draw Fire. Photo taken from the Incident Command Post

Photos updated at 6:02 PM on March 30, 2015

Photos taken on a recon flight this afternoon.

View from the southeast side of the fire along the Harding Road.

View from the southwest side of the fire. Looking at slop over into a draw.

View from the northwest side of the fire which is the most active portion. 

View from the northwest flank of the fire.  

Updated at 4:46 PM on March 30, 2015

• Fire Command flew over the fire today to gain fire intelligence.   
• The latest conservative estimate in size is 10,200 acres.
• There are no changes on the incident status, firefighters are still in full suppression strategy.  Fire Managers will continue to ramp up personnel working with the Incident Management Team (IMT) in light of critical incident fire weather forecasted for tomorrow.  

Photo taken from the Incident Command Post located in Harding, SD.

Updated at 12:33 PM on March 30, 2015

• The Sheep Draw Fire is now 15% contained.

Black Hat Hand Crew, Crew Boss on the Sheep Draw Fire

Map of the Sheep Draw Fire updated at 11:18 AM on March 30, 2015

Photos updated at 10:55 AM on March 30, 2015

Sheep Draw Fire

National Guard Black Hawk Helicopter 

Sheep Draw Fire - Dozer putting in fireline

Sheep Draw Fire 

Updated 10:16 AM, March 30 2015

• Size remains at 6,430 acres
• A Fire Investigator is on scene working to determine cause
• Four primary structures  and 18 outbuildings (which include natural gas wells/sites) are threatened.  Structure protection is in place and Fire Officials are working with local resources to ensure public and firefighter safety.
• This fire is burning in Fuel Models 2 (grass) and 7 (timber overstory with pockets of heavier fuels)
• A Type 3 team has assumed command as of 8:00 AM today
• Fire Officials are working on a complexity analysis today to determine if this fire should be typed at a 2 level (meaning a more complex incident)
• No injuries of firefighters or the public have been reported
• Weather right now on scene is 52 degrees with wind gusts up to 18 MPH (moderate winds) and the relative humidity at 45% 
• The temperature is expected to reach 69 degrees today with higher wind gusts up to 38 MPH.  There is currently a Fire Weather Watch in Harding County with high winds are expected.

Updated 9:20, Sunday March 29, 2015

Fire is now 6430 acres


Updated 2:45, Sunday March 29, 2015

Fire is now 5600 acres
Jim Strain from SD Wildland Fire is the type 3 Incident Commander
2 helicopters from SD National Guard have been ordered
Fire officials estimate containment/control in 4 to 5 days


Updated 11:11, Sunday March 29,2015

Fire size is 5000+ acres on private and state lands. A Type 3 team has been ordered. No injuries have been reported. The cause is under investigation.


Located in the West Short Pines of Harding County
Estimated size is 2000 Acres
Local and Federal resources on scene and a 20 person hand crew and dozer have been requested
Cause is unknown at this time
Sustained winds of 40+ mph with wind gusts of 70+ reported

How to Obtain Fire Information in the Great Plains Initial Attack Zone

Rapid City, SD – Public Information Officers (PIOs) from Federal and State agencies continue to work together to distribute information about initial attack fires within the Great Plains initial attack zone.

(Note: The Great Plains initial attack zone includes public and private land in the Black Hills in South Dakota, in east/northeastern Wyoming and western Nebraska.)

One common phone number, e-mail, blog, and Twitter account are staffed during initial attack fires by an on call PIO who works closely with the Great Plains Dispatch Center to provide interagency fire information.

Great Plains Fire Information/PIO Contact Information:

•   Phone Number - (605) 923-8868
•  Email - greatplainsfireinfo@gmail.com
• Blog - http://gpfireinfo.blogspot.com/
• Twitter - @GPFireInfo 

It is important to note that people who wish to receive fire information within the Great Plains initial attack zone, should subscribe to the blog, follow the Twitter account or subscribe to the Atom Feed (available on blog) as news releases are no longer sent out via the Google e-mail account.

If a post has been made on the blog, one automatic e-mail a day will be sent to those who subscribe with all of the daily fire updates. The blog link may also be checked anytime of the day to see any updates that have been made on initial attack fires.

To subscribe to the blog:

1.            Click on http://gpfireinfo.blogspot.com/
2.       In the “Follow by E-mail” box on the right side of the webpage, enter your e-mail address that you wish to     receive updates at.
3.       Hit “Submit”
4.       A pop-up box will appear asking you to enter a word in a box to verify that your e-mail is not spam.
5.            Enter the word that is shown and then click “Complete Subscription Request”
6.             Done

For questions, please call the PIO phone number at (605) 923-8868 or e-mail greatplainsfireinfo@gmail.com.

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