Outback fire
Date reported: April 23, 2024, 8:00PM
Location: 4 Miles west of Hermosa
Resources: State / Local
Size: 0.1 acres
Cause: Unknown
Status: Controlled
Prescribed Burn at Custer State Park set for April 24
Rapid City, S.D.
– South Dakota Wildland Fire is planning a prescribed burn in coordination with
Custer State Park on Wednesday April 24, 2024, in the northwestern quarter of
the park. The burn area is about 2 miles north of the Park Visitor Center
and is not accessible via paved roads. Mop-up and monitoring will continue in
the following days. If weather conditions are not favorable Wednesday, the burn
will be rescheduled.
Firefighters plan to burn 44 acres in a bowl shaped, relatively open meadow containing some Ponderosa Pine trees and surrounded by timbered hillsides. This area within CSP is known as Round Park.
Prescribed
burn treatments are carefully planned. Some key objectives in this treatment
include promoting prairie/rangeland restoration, reducing pine encroachment,
removing most of the thatch layer thereby enhancing growth of native warm
season grasses, and hindering growth of invasive cool season grasses.
Fire also reduces hazardous debris and dead vegetation buildup, which can fuel wildfires.
If you see smoke in the air above this area or surrounding areas on the 24th, please be aware this is a planned event.
Fire crews
will secure, patrol, and monitor fire lines as appropriate for public and
firefighter safety.
Custer State Park will be open as usual, but visitors should expect delays near the prescribed burn area. For more information about park accessibility please contact the park at 605.394.2693.
