KOTA Territory NewsPrescribed burn planned near Stevens High School

Prescribed burn planned near Stevens High School

The Rapid City Fire Department and SD Wildland Fire Suppression Division are planning to conduct a prescribed burn on Friday, November 6th.

According to a news release, firefighters will be burning a total of 2.1 acres on the North side of the Stevens High School Campus. The purpose of the burn is to remove the grass and dead fuels that lay along Raider Road next to the gymnasium. By removing the fuels in the area the firefighters will help mitigate the potential for a significant wildland fire in the area.

Firefighters are asking that residents who live in the area keep doors and windows closed on Friday due to the smoke that will be in the area. 

Firefighters are expecting to start the burn around 12:00 pm with the actual burn only expected to take about one hour. Residents should expect smoke to remain in the area for several hours. Firefighting resources will be hand on for several hours after the burn is completed and the Rapid City Fire Department will monitor the area over the evening hours on Friday.

This is the first of several steps to reduce fuels in and around the Stevens High School Campus. Last year fuel mitigation work was completed on the National Guard property located along 44th Street by the SD Wildland Fire handcrews.

Agencies involved in this burn include: Rapid City Unified School District, Stevens High School Staff, Rapid City Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Western Dakota Technical Institute- Fire Science Program, South Dakota Army National Guard and the South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression Division.