December 28, 2024

Brass 2 Fire

Date Reported: December 28, 2024, 6:00am

Location: 4 miles WSW of Rockerville

Size: 0.1 acres

Resources Responded: Local

Cause: Human

Status: Out

December 19, 2024 - Update

McGee Fire - Updated

Date Reported: December 19, 2024, 12:15am

Location: 5 miles SW of Rapid City, SD

Size: 46.2 acres

Resources Responded: Local, State, and Federal 

Cause: Unknown

Status: as of 0800 Dec 20, 50% contained. 

Gordon Fire

Date Reported: December 19, 2024, 3:31am

Location: 1 mile SW of Sheridan Lake

Size: 13.4 acres

Resources Responded: Local, State, and Federal 

Cause: Unknown 

Status: Controlled

Pile Burning December 10, 2024

 

On 12/10/2024, South Dakota Wildland Fire will be conducting a pile burn in the area of Elk Creek Road and Little Elk Creek Road near Deadwood, SD 2 miles east of HWY 385.

Ignitions will begin the morning of Tuesday, 12/10/2024 and may continue through Friday, 12/13/2024. The project is 4 acres of privately owned forested property that was fuels reduced in the summer of 2022. There are 96 total hand piles on the project.

Possible areas of smoke impact are Elk Creek Rd, Little Elk Creek Rd, and Coyote Ridge Rd.

Pile Burning December 9, 2024

 

Forest Service News Release

Media Contact: Scott Jacobson, Public Affairs Officer

(605) 440-1409

scott.j.jacobson@usda.gov 

www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills

Pile Burning to begin soon on the Black Hills National Forest

Custer, S.D., December 9, 2024 — With the recent snowfall across the Black Hills National Forest, Ranger Districts will begin burning thousands of hand and machine slash piles. Piles are created from timber sale slash and tree thinning operations.

Piles are only ignited when managers are confident that the project can be undertaken safely with considerations to snow cover, wind, temperature, available staffing, and smoke dispersal. Public and firefighter safety is always the number-one priority in all burning operations. Firefighters continually monitor and check the piles for several days after they have been lit.

“It is very important to reduce fire and insect hazards by reducing fuel buildup,” said Jason Virtue, Black Hills National Forest Fire Management Officer. “We appreciate the support from the communities. Being able to reduce these fuels this time of year makes fire suppression operations safer during the summer months.”

Smoke will be visible and may impact local communities across the Black Hills for the next several months. Smoldering material may continue to burn days after burning operations are completed.

For more pile burning information and notifications, follow the Black Hills National Forest on the Great Plains Fire Information page: http://gpfireinfo.blogspot.com/,

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackhillsnf and/or Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlackHillsNF

For more information on the Black Hills National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills.

 

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December 7, 2024

 Marie Fire

Date Reported: December 7, 2024

Location: 1 mile N of Fort Pierre

Size: 1.0 acre 

Resources Responded: State

Cause: Human

Current Status| Contained

Twin Lake Fire

Date Reported: December 7, 2024

Location: 9 Miles NW of Fort Pierre 

Size: 0.10 acres

Resources Responded: Federal

Cause: Human

Current Status: Out

Wildfire Update November 21, 2024

 Blue Bell Fire

Date Reported: November 20, 2024

Location: Near Blue Bell Campground in Custer State Park 

Size: 0.59 acres

Resources Responded: State, Local, and Federal 

Cause: Human caused

Current Status: Forward Progress Stopped.

Mile Marker 20 Fire

Date Reported: November 21, 2024

Location: 2 miles NW of Whitewood, SD 

Size: 0.25 acres

Resources Responded: Local, State, and Federal 

Cause: Unknown

Current Status: Contained

Prescribed Burn Planned for November 14, 2024

 BLM Planning to Conduct Prescribed Burn in Meade County on Fort Meade Recreation Area

The Bureau of Land Management plans to conduct a prescribed burn on the Fort Meade Recreation Area  Thursday November 14, 2024.  This 240-acre burn is planned near the Fort Meade Reservoir north of Highway 34.  Smoke may be visible from Interstate 90, State Highway 34, State Highway 79, and the city of Sturgis.  Burning will be completed in one day but smoke may be visible for multiple days after ignition is completed.

Prescribed fire projects require an extensive planning process to determine prescription parameters based off local knowledge, subject matter experts, as well as accepted scientific and computer-based modeling.

Burning will only take place when weather conditions are conducive to safe operations.  Fire officials will monitor the current and forecasted weather to determine if conditions will remain favorable.  The BLM will contact local authorities prior to any burning taking place.  

Burn objectives are to reduce hazardous fuels accumulations, reduce ponderosa pine stand densities, and restore a more balanced pine-savanna habitat. Reducing plant litter, decadent grass, and fuel accumulations will also lower the likelihood or intensity of future wildfires in the area.  Prescribed fire also encourages new growth in forage for wildlife and cattle, maintains many plant and animal species whose habitats depend on periodic fire, removes unwanted species that threaten species native to an ecosystem, and recycles nutrients back to the soil.

For additional information call the South Dakota Field Office at 605-892-7000.

For updates before, during, and after prescribed burning operations, you can follow us on Facebook at Bureau of Land Management – Montana/Dakotas or on Twitter @BLM_MTDKs.

Nov. 8, 2024 - Prescribed Burn Continues Southwest of Rapid City, SD

Yesterday, 11/7/24, firefighters successfully burned 100 acres on the Mystic Ranger District, Black Hills National Forest and are planning to burn an additional 125 acres today, Fri. 11/8/24.

 
Firefighters burn to reduce the severity and intensity of wildfires by reducing hazardous fuels that feed wildfires. Burning improves overall forest health by recycling carbon and nutrients into the soil and controlling forest insects. It also increases forage for wildlife, like grass and shrubs, and improves conditions for better wildlife habitat.

Thank you to the crews who are assisting with this burn including Whispering Pines VFD, Rapid City Fire Department, Mimbres NM crew, Haycamp crew, and the Mystic Ranger District, Black Hills National Forest.

(Photos: Victoria prescribed fire, Nov. 7, 2024, by Cecilia Lepa-Wince, Black Hills National Forest/USDA Forest Service)

Prescribed Burn November 7 and 8, 2024

Forest Service News Release
Media Contact: Beth Doten, Public Affairs
(605) 440-0263
bethany.doten@usda.gov
www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills/

Broadcast Burn Planned Southwest of Rapid City, SD

starting Thurs. Nov. 7, 2024

 

Rapid City, SD, Nov. 6, 2024 — If you see a large plume of smoke in the air starting tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, southwest of Rapid City, SD, please do not call 911. Fire managers are conducting a prescribed burn west of the junction of Victoria Lake and First Thunder Roads. 

The Mystic Ranger District on the Black Hills National Forest is planning to ignite up to 250 acres on the Victoria Project on Thursday and Friday, weather permitting.

The Victoria Project area is located approximately 5 miles southwest of Rapid City, SD. 

We are asking forest visitors, recreational shooters, and hunters to consider using an alternate location on the Forest during this time to ensure the safety of our firefighters and the public.

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

Broadcast burns are the application of fire to the landscape under pre-determined environmental conditions and geographic locations. Utilizing fire gives land managers another tool to meet resource objects.

Crews have been preparing to implement the project for several years.

The U.S. Forest Service conducts broadcast burns in an effort of reducing hazardous fuels and to improve wildlife habitat and forest health. Certain criteria must be met for a broadcast burn to take place, including smoke dispersal conditions, weather, adequate staffing, and fuel moisture. These are all outlined in a burn plan, that is thoroughly reviewed before implementation.

Once completed, the burn area will also serve to lessen fire intensities from naturally ignited fires such as lightning and provide fire managers more options and increase safety when suppressing future fires.

Forest visitors are asked to be aware of their surroundings. Areas where burning operations are taking place will be signed to notify visitors. The public is also encouraged to contact a nearby Forest Service office with questions.

For more information on the Black Hills National Forest, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills.

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October 26th, 2024

  Englewood Fire

Reported: October 26th, 8:30 am

Location: Lawrence County, 3 miles S of Lead, SD

Size: 0.1 acres

Resources: State

Status: Out

Cause: Human

October 25th, 2024

 Rocky Fire

Reported: October 25th, 8:35 pm

Location: Custer County, 4 miles NNE of Custer, SD

Size: 0.1 acres

Resources: Federal, State

Status: Out

Cause:

October 24th, 2024

Old Highway Fire

Reported: October 24th, 2024 10:30 am

Location: 3 miles SW of Rockerville, at the intersection of Hwy 16 and Tepee Gulch Rd

Size: <0.1 acres

Resources: State

Status: Out

Cause: Human

Grace Fire

Reported: October 23rd, 2024 9:55 pm

Location: Custer State Park, 1 mile NW of the State Game Lodge

Size: 0.25

Resources: State

Status: Controlled

Cause: Human 

October 23rd, 2024

Adelphia Fire

Reported: October 23rd, 2024 5:18 pm

Location: Lawrence County, 9 mi SW of Lead

Size: <0.1 acres

Resources: Federal, State, and Local

Status: Out

Cause: Human

October 16th, 2024

 Canvas Fire

Reported: October 16th, 3:22 pm

Location: 5.5 miles E of Piedmont, SD

Size: 0.1 acres

Resources: State, Local

Status: Out

Cause: Human

October 15th, 2024

Axel Fire

Reported: October 15th, 2:26 pm

Location: Box Butte County, 19 miles NW of Hemingford, NE

Size: 86 acres

Resources: Federal

Status: Contained

Cause:

October 14th, 2024

 Kay Fire

Reported: October 14th, 1:26 pm

Location: 2 mi S of Dunning, NE

Size: 150 acres

Resources: Federal

Status: Contained

Cause:

October 13th, 2024

Beagle Fire

Reported: October 13th, 4:01 pm

Location: South of Crawford, NE on East Belmont Road 

Size: 20 acres

Resources: Federal and Local

Status: Contained

Cause: Human

October 12th, 2024

Roosevelt Fire

Reported: October 12th, 8:44 pm

Location: 3 miles north of Lead, SD 

Size: 0.1 acre

Resources: Federal, State, Local

Status: Out

Cause: Human

October 11th, 2024

Witch Fire

Reported: October 11th, 8:36 pm

Location: 1 mile southwest of Pringle, SD 

Size: 0.1 acre

Resources: Federal, State, Local

Status: Out

Cause: Human

Centennial Fire

Reported: October 10th, 10:22 pm

Location: 2 miles north of Sheridan Lake 

Size: 3.6 acres

Resources: Federal, State, Local

Status: Controlled

Cause: Under Investigation

October 10th, 2024

66 

Reported: October 10th

Location: Pennington County, 5 miles N of Hermosa at mile marker 66 

Size: 14.6 acres

Resources: State

Status: Contained

Cause: Human

Reno Fire

Reported: October 10th, 11:01 am

Location: Pennington County, 2 miles S of Hill City

Size: 0.1 acres

Resources: State

Status: Controlled

Cause: Human

October 9th, 2024

 Grier Fire

Reported: October 9th, 10:57 am

Location: Lawrence County, 1 mile W of Lead, SD

Size: 0.1 acres

Resources: State

Status: Out

Cause: Unknown

October 8th, 2024

 Tapper Fire

Reported: October 8th, 1:06 pm

Location: Crook County, 5 miles NW of Beulah, WY

Size: 0.1 acres

Status: Out

Cause: Unknown

October 6th, 2024

Old Sawmill Fire

Reported: October 6th, 5:44 pm

Location: Off Old Sawmill Road north of Nemo, SD 

Size: 0.1 acres

Resources: Federal, State, Local

Status: Out

Cause: Human

October 5th, 2024

Cathedral Fire 

UPDATE from Custer State Park (10-5-24)

We're Back Open! 

Thanks to the incredible efforts of our wildland firefighters and local emergency management teams, the fire spread was kept to a small area. 

As of October 5, 2024, the following areas are back open: 

-Needles Highway 
-Sylvan Lake
-Cathedral Spires
-Trails 9 and 4

Please note that Little Devils Tower Trail will remain closed for the next several days. We ask visitors to please honor that closure and stay off the trail. 

Thank you for everyone's understanding and support for Custer State Park. 

Silica Mine Fire

Reported: October 5th, 10:01 am

Location: 4 miles southwest of Deerfield lake 

Size: 0.1 acres

Resources: Federal

Status: Out

Cause: Human

Silver Mountain Fire October 4, 2024 Update

Overnight, firefighters staffed and patrolled the line to ensure the fire did not cross the established boundary.  Containment has been increased to 75% and the size remains at 22 acres.  

Today, firefighters will continue to strengthen control lines and mop-up near the fire's edge.  Mopping up makes a fire safer by extinguishing or removing burning and hazardous material within or close to the fire’s edge. Mop-up is hard, dirty, and tedious work that includes looking for smokes or hot spots in what otherwise looks like a cold area, and then extinguishing them.      

Firefighters mop-up by dousing any remaining flames or embers and removing burning material near the control lines.  They stir and drown any hot areas that are still smoking.  Snags or trees may be felled because of fire inside their trunk or danger of falling.  Logs may be trenched to prevent rolling, particularly rolling outside the fire control lines.  This job requires firefighters to venture some 100-300 feet inside control lines to attack any remaining hot spots.     This work starts as soon as possible after control lines are built and eventually progresses all the way around a fire’s perimeter. The fire is not out completely until mop-up is done and the fire’s outer edge is cold to the touch – firefighters literally feel the ashes with their bare hands to ensure all heat is gone. Mop-up can last for days after the last active flame along the control line has been extinguished. Stumps can burn for a long time. A single, undetected, burning ember could rekindle the fire and wipe out all previous firefighting efforts.

The National Weather US National Weather Service Rapid City South Dakota has issued a Red Flag Warning for today through Saturday.  With winds 15 to 30 mph and gusts up to 45 mph this afternoon paired with minimum relative humidity 10-20%, we're urging the public to be extremely careful with all ignition sources.  

October 4th, 2024

Cathedral Fire

Reported: October 4th, 3:05 pm

Location: 6 Miles northwest of Custer, SD 

Size: 0.45 acres

Resources: Federal, State, Local

Status: Contained

Cause: Unknown

For more information on closings at Custer State Park please contact Visitor Services Coordinator Lydia Austin at (406)291-7117 

October 3, 2024 - Silver Mountain Fire Update

 

Black Hills National Forest
Forest Service News Release
Media Contact: Scott Jacobson, Public Affairs Officer
(605) 440-1409
scott.j.jacobson@usda.gov 

Silver Mountain Fire Update

October 3, 2024 – The Silver Mountain Fire was reported at 11:15am located approximately 1 mile west of Rockerville, SD. The fire is currently estimated at 15-20 acres with federal, state, and local firefighters responding. Multiple air resources are aiding ground crews with suppression efforts to stop forward progression and establish a perimeter around the fire. Firefighter and public safety continue to be a top priority.

Pennington County Emergency Management and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office have issued an official pre-evacuation notification to residents impacted by the Silver Mountain Fire. Silver Mountain Road is currently closed. Please avoid the area to allow firefighters to continue suppression efforts.

Critical fire weather today continues to impact the Black Hills area with temperatures in the 60s and low relative humidity. A fire weather watch has been issued for tomorrow with breezy winds sustained at 10-20mph, and gusts up to 30mph expected. With continued critical fire weather across the area, Forest officials are asking the public to be extremely careful on the Forest with ignitions.

For more information, please visit the Silver Mountain Fire Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/silvermountainfire2024/

Public safety information can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/RCPCEmgMgmt

 

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October 3rd, 2024

Song Fire

Reported: October 3rd, 3:03 pm

Location: 5 Miles northwest of Hot Springs, SD

Size: 0.25 acres

Resources: Federal, State, Local

Land Ownership: Private

Status: Contained

Cause: Under Investigation

Silver Mountain Fire

Reported: October 3rd, 11:15 am

Location:  Approximately 1 mile southwest of Rockerville, SD near Silver Mountain Road

Size: 15-20 acres

Resources: Federal, State, Local

Land Ownership: Forest Service

Status: 

Cause: Under Investigation

For more information about the fire, follow our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/silvermountainfire2024/

or contact us at: (605)390-2057

September 30th, 2024

 144 Fire

Reported: September 30th, 5:41 pm

Location:  North of Nemo, SD

Size: 0.1 acres

Resources: Federal, State, Local

Status: Controlled

Cause: Human

September, 29th 2024

October Fire

Reported: September 29th, 4:44 pm

Location:  15 miles SW of Chadron, NE

Size: 275 acres

Resources: Federal, State, Local

Status: Contained

Cause: Unknown

Homestake Fire

Reported: September 29th 8:54 am

Location: 5 miles west of Spearfish

Size: 0.1 acre

Resources: State

Status: Out

Cause: Unknown

September 28th, 2024

 Lytle Hill Fire

Reported: September 28, 2024 10:43PM

Location: Crook County, 12 Miles South of Beulah

Size: 11 acres

Resources:  Federal

Status:  Contained

Cause: Unknown

September 26th, 2024

Short Grass Fire

Reported: September 26, 2024 03:43PM

Location: Approximately 2 miles Southwest of Fairburn

Size: 3.6 acres

Resources:  Federal/State/County

Status:  Out

Cause: Unknown

Slate Creek Fire

Reported: September 26, 2024 02:29PM

Location: Approximately 4 miles Southeast of Deerfield Lake

Size: .1 acre

Resources:  Federal/State

Status:  Out

Cause: Human

Solomon Fire

Reported: September 26, 2024 01:40PM

Location: Approximately 2 miles West of Rochford Cemetery

Size: .1 acre

Resources: Federal

Status:  Controlled

Cause: Human

Bowman Fire

Reported: September 26, 2024 12:05PM

Location:  Custer County, 1 mile NE of Pringle

Size: .25 acres

Resources:  Federal/State

Status:  Controlled

Cause: Unknown

Gulch Fire

Reported: September 26, 2024 10:56AM

Location:  Higgins Gulch Area. 6 Miles West of Spearfish, SD

Size: .1 acre

Resources:  Federal

Status:  Controlled

Cause: Abandoned Campfire

September 25th, 2025

 

Paint Fire-Nebraska

Reported: September 25, 2024  04:08pm

Location:  4 miles Southeast of Harrison

Size: 3 acres

Resources:  Nebraska State

Status:  Contained

Cause: Non-determined at time

Elk Fire

Reported: September 25, 2024  02:01pm

Location: 1 mile north of Elk Mountain

Size: 0.1 acre

Resources:  Federal

Status:  Controlled

Cause: Human

Airport Fire

Reported: September 25, 2024  08:08 am 

Location: 2 miles South of Custer (1/2 mile east of Custer Co. Airport)

Size: 0.1 acre

Resources:  Federal

Status:  Controlled

Cause: Human 

September 21, 2024

 

Shirt Fire

Reported: September 21, 2024   13:25 p.m.

Location:  near Argyle, SD

Size: 0.1 acre

Resources:  State

Status:  Out

Cause: Human

Rock Fire

Reported: September 21, 2024   8:21 a.m.

Location:  2 miles south of Sturgis, SD

Size: 0.1 acre

Resources:  Federal and local

Status:  Out

Cause: Human

Watershed Fire

Reported: September 20, 2024   8:40 p.m.

Location: 2 miles W of Pringle, SD

Size: 0.1 acre

Resources:  Federal, state, and local

Status:  Out

Cause: Human 

Bronco Fire Update (September 21, 2024)

 Bronco Fire

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Tim Buskirk, (308) 432-0393, US Forest Service

Katrina Cerveny (402) 326-3179, Nebraska Emergency Management Agency

8:30 am. Bronco Fire Update

September 21, 2024 (CRAWFORD, NEB.) - Firefighters made good progress toward containment of the Bronco Fire near Crawford, NE today. The Bronco Fire is currently 72% contained and 1,060 acres.

Crawford Volunteer Fire Department, Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, and the US Forest Service would like to thank the entire community for their support.

“Thank you to all the firefighters who worked safely to contain this fire. We appreciate the support of the community,” said incident commander Nathan Flowers. “We ask the public to please continue to stay off the roads in the fire area.”

Governor Jim Pillen verbally authorized a disaster declaration which will be followed by a written Governor’s disaster proclamation. The public is asked not to travel on any roads nearby for their own safety and the safety of firefighters. No unnecessary travel on Milo Road, Sand Creek Road and Cottonwood Road.

Please note, this will be the last regularly scheduled press release from the Bronco Fire. Please see Crawford Volunteer Fire Department and/or the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands Facebook pages for further information.

Bronco Fire (September 20, 2024)

 

Bronco Fire

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Tim Buskirk, (308) 432-0393, US Forest Service

Katrina Cerveny (402) 326-3179, Nebraska Emergency Management Agency

9:30 a.m. Bronco Fire Update

September 20, 2024 (CRAWFORD, NEB.) - Firefighters continue to battle the Bronco Fire, located 11 miles northwest of Crawford, Nebraska in Sioux County. Federal, State and Local resources assigned to the fire include 125 personnel and multiple air resources. Rough terrain combined with hot and dry weather conditions continue to challenge firefighters.

The fire is currently at 915 acres and is not contained. Additional ground crews arrived last night and will continue to work towards containment of the fire by constructing fire lines today. Governor Jim Pillen verbally authorized a disaster declaration which will be followed by a written Governor’s disaster proclamation.

The fire is managed under a unified command between Crawford Volunteer Fire Department, Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, and the US Forest Service. Fire management transitioned to a Type 3 organization last night to best support firefighters and other resources.

Hot and dry weather will continue today. Wind conditions are favorable, and the outlook is for cooler weather over the weekend.

The public is being asked not to travel on any roads nearby for their own safety and the safety of firefighters. No unnecessary travel on Milo Road, Sand Creek Road and Cottonwood Road.

September 20, 2024

 

313 Fire

Reported: September 20, 2024  6:56 a.m.

Location: 1 mile west of Pringle, SD

Size: 0.1 acre

Resources:  Federal, Local, state

Status:  Controlled

Cause: Human

Brakes Fire

Reported: September 18, 2024  1:03 p.m.

Location: 4 miles southeast of Aladdin, WY

Size: 71 acres

Resources:  Federal, Local 

Status:  Active

Cause: Under Investigation

September 18, 2024 (Updated at 5:50 p.m.)

Brakes Fire

Reported: September 18, 2024  1:03 p.m.

Location: 4 miles southeast of Aladdin, WY

Size: 71 acres

Resources:  Federal, Local 

(Dozers, fire engines,  hand crew, air support)

Status:  Active

Cause: Under Investigation

Bronco Fire

Reported: September 18, 2024  12:06 p.m.

Location: 11 miles northwest of Crawford, NE

Size: 25 acre

Resources:  Federal, Local

Status:  Active

Cause: Lightning

Bradley Fire

Reported: September 18, 2024  11:56 a.m.

Location:  1 mile northeast of Hill City, SD

Size: 0.5 acre

Resources:  Federal, State, Local

Status:  Contained

Cause: Under Investigation