KOTA Territory NewsThunderstorms continue to cause wildland fire activity

Thunderstorms continue to cause wildland fire activity

Several new fires were reported on Tuesday evening as thunderstorms again moved through the Black Hills.

According to a news release from the South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression Division, there were over 18 reports of possible wildland fires from the lightning that went through the area. The majority of these reports were false alarms.

Northern Great Plains Dispatch Center along with firefighters from the state, Black Hills National Forest, Nebraska National Forest, National Park Service, and local Volunteer Fire Departments responded to and extinguished seven wildland fires.

An interagency air observation flight is patrolling the Black Hills and surrounding areas today looking for any holdovers that may appear as temperatures increase this afternoon.  All of these fires were on private land:

Dewey Fire: This fire was reported at 4:45 pm. The fire location was two miles South of Dewey, SD in Fall River County. The fire was a large pile of railroad ties that were started on fire by a passing train. Resources from the Edgemont Volunteer Fire Department and the Forest Service responded to extinguish the fire. The fire was contained and control at 5:37 pm. No structures were threatened by this fire.

Battle Mountain Fire: This fire was reported at 12:10 pm. Its location was two miles east of Battle Mountain in Fall River County. The fire was 1/10 of an acre. Containment was reached at 2:34 pm, with control reached at 4:35 pm. Engines responding to the fire included Hot Springs Volunteer Fire Department, the Nebraska National Forest, and the State of South Dakota. The Interagency Type III Helicopter from the Black Hills National Forest also responded to this incident. No structures were threatened and this was reported as a lightning caused fire.

Dumont Fire: This fire was located near Rochford Road and Dumont Trailhead in Lawrence County. This fire was reported at 7:35 pm, contained at 9:30 pm, with control at 9:47 pm.

One engine from the State of South Dakota Wildland Fire responded. This was also a lightning caused fire with no structures at risk.

Four other fires were all located in a ½ mile radius 4.5 miles west of Hot Springs on Highway 18 in Fall River County.

Lightning hit a barbwire fence and traveled approximately ½ mile starting four fires. The Minnekahta Volunteer Fire Department and the State of South Dakota responded with engine personnel and the Bear Mountain Handcrew to these fires:

Erskine #1: Reported at 9:30 pm on 8-4-09. The fire reached a size of 1/10 of an acre with containment at 9:30 pm on 8-4-09. Control was reached at 10:00 pm on 8-4-09.

Erskine #2: reported at 9:30 pm on 8-4-09. The fire reached a size of 1/10 of an acre with containment at 9:00 am on 8-5-09. Control was reached at 10:00 am on 8-5-09.

Erskine #3: reported at 9:30 pm on 8-4-09. The fire reached a size of 1/10 of an acre with containment at 9:00 am on 8-5-09. Control was reached at 10:00 am on 8-5-09.

Erskine #4: reported at 9:30 pm on 8-4-09. The fire reached a size of 1/10 of an acre with containment at 10:00 am on 8-5-09. Control was reached at 11:00 am on 8-5-09.