For
Immediate Release: April 12, 2016
Contact:
Jeni Lawver, 605.381.7232
Two
Prescribed Fires Planned At Custer State Park
RAPID CITY, S.D.— The South Dakota Department of
Agriculture’s Wildland Fire Division, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks and
Custer State Park will be conducting two prescribed burns in Custer State Park
this week.
These burns are scheduled to take place on Tuesday and
Wednesday, April 12 and 13. The Swint Well prescribed fire project is located
in the southeast corner of Custer State Park north of the Wildlife Visitor
Station and the South Fork prescribed fire is located in the very southeast
corner of the park. Firefighters are planning on burning approximately 1,000
acres.
Residents
and visitors in the surrounding area of the prescribed burn may see smoke,
although this burn will primarily take place in grass fuels, residual smoke
should be limited. The area will continue to be monitored by firefighters in
the days following the prescribed burns.
Additional
plans have been made with contingency resources in the event of an escape;
resources will be present to assist for an additional margin of safety.
Prescribed fire is utilized to maintain healthy native
vegetation communities 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.
Resource objectives for the burn include improving range
conditions and grass habitat for wildlife. Prescribed fire objectives include
providing the seasonal firefighter work force the opportunity to improve their
skills prior to fire season, to provide for trainee firefighters to work on
task books to become qualified in positions in a more controlled manner with
proper oversight of qualified firefighters, and to provide interagency
cooperation.
Benefits also include providing the opportunities to
improve relationships with adjacent property owners and agencies.
Participating
agencies include: South Dakota Wildland Fire, South Dakota Game, Fish and
Parks, Custer State Park, the Black Hills National Forest and the Nebraska
National Forest.
