Numerous Lightning-Caused Fires - KOTA Territory News
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UPDATE 7-27 10:40PM:
Sturgis Area Sees Two New Fire Starts Today
Rapid City, SD – Firefighting activity increased late this afternoon as thunderstorms rolled across the Black Hills area again today.
Meade County Dispatch called in several new lightning caused fires, approximately 5 miles southwest of Sturgis, SD. Immediately afterwards, National Guard Blackhawk helicopters were passing over and helped pinpoint the specific locations. Both fires were spreading rapidly when the Sturgis Volunteer Fire Department arrived on scene. Both federal and state engines were sent to assist, and an air tanker was able to drop one load of fire retardant, before the severe weather forced him away. Additional resources on the fires included a helicopter and 2 hand crews.
The Lower Reservoir Fire, the smaller of the two fires, started on the Northern Hills Ranger District and was contained and controlled at 0.25 acre.
The Upper Reservoir Fire is 1 acre, located just south of the other, started within the Sturgis Watershed. With help from some moisture that followed the lightning; federal, state, and local forces are making good progress on this fire and expect to have it contained by 10pm.
Other Fire Activity
Three other new fire starts were contained at less than 1/10th of an acre. Federal, state, and local forces are responding to at least six new reports of smoke at the time of this release.
UPDATE 7-26 8:45PM:
Although areas in the path of the recent thunderstorm activity around Rapid City received a significant amount of rainfall in the past 24 hours, other areas within the Black Hills Forest Fire Protection District were less fortunate. Federal, state, and local volunteer firefighters were kept busy responding to 12 new fire starts today.
While not currently visible, some of the lightning strikes in the areas that received rainfall may have produced "sleepers". Sleepers are standing dead trees or other woody material that have been ignited and will continue to smolder until the temperature rises and the fuels dry out.
Little Flats Fire
A Type III Incident Management Team is assigned and has ordered additional resources including;
7 engines, 1 hand crew, 3 South Dakota Department of Corrections - Smoke Busters crews
Location: Nine miles due south of Elk Mountain Lookout, SD
Size: 12-15 acres Cause: Lightning Containment: Unknown
Wonderland Fire
The Wonderland Fire burned on private land and threatened structures east of the Community of Piedmont, SD
Location: 13 miles northwest of Rapid City, SD
Size: 6.9 acres Cause: Lighting Containment: 100%
Crawford Fire
Location: On private land six miles south of Crawford, NE
Size: 30 acres Cause: Lighting Containment: Unknown
Hossey CA Fire
Location: Five miles south of Devil's Tower, WY
Size: 62 acres Cause: Under investigation Containment: 100%
MM 45 Fire
Location: At mile Interstate 90, marker 45 near Piedmont, SD
Size: 0.2 acre Cause: Human Containment: Unknown
RU 18 Fire
Location: In the Reed Ranch area, twenty-four miles southeast of Pierre, SD
Size: 500 acres Cause: Lightning Containment: 100%
Winger Fire
Location: In Crook County
Size: 3.7 acres Cause: Under investigation Containment: 100%
Harding Fire
Location: At the top of the Bear Lodge Mountains
Size: 3.7 acres Cause: Under investigation Containment: 100%
The other five fires were contained at less than a tenth of an acre.
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Thunderstorms rolled over the Black Hills again today and federal, state, and local VFD firefighters responded to another 15 new fires. Most of the new fires were small and were contained at less than ½ an acre. However, because of the hot, dry, and windy conditions, several of the new fires required numerous air tanker retardant drops and the use of helicopters to drop water; allowing firefighters to build fire line to contain the spread of the fires.
Fire resources on the Myrtle Fire, which is nearing containment, assisted with initial attack of several new fires in the southern Black Hills. Five Interagency Hotshot crews, responded to three nearby fires. Aviation resources, including helicopters and air tankers assisted with initial attack on eight new fires.
With fire activity remaining high throughout the region, fire resources are being reassigned to other incidents after they are released from their currently assigned fire.
Falls Fire
The Falls Fire started between Falls Canyon and Lindsley Canyon, six miles southwest of Hot Springs. The fire threatens powerlines to the northwest and is burning in steep and rugged terrain. No structures are threatened at this time. A Type III Incident Commander has ordered additional crews and engines.
Size: 150 acres
Cause: Lightning
Containment: Unknown
Placerville Fire
Location: Just north of the Pactola Work Center, in the Mystic Ranger District
Size: 0.1 acre
Cause: Lightning
Containment: 100%
Rock Point Fire
Location: Two miles north of the Wind Cave National Park, Rankin Ridge lookout
Size: 0.1 acre
Cause: Lightning
Containment: 100%
East Pass Fire
Location: Two miles north of the Wind Cave National Park, Rankin Ridge lookout
Size: 7.75 acres
Cause: Lightning
Containment: 100%
Draw Fire
Location: 1/2 mile north of Cottonwood Reservoir
Size: 12 acres
Cause: Lightning
Containment: 100%
Honey Badger Fire
Location: Three miles west of Spearfish, SD
Size: 0.1 acre
Cause: Lightning
Containment: 100%
Mountain Lion Fire
Location: Just west of Argyle and 6 miles south of Pringle, SD
Size: 0.25 acre
Cause: Lightning
Containment: 100%
Geis Fire
Location: Northeast of Bear Lodge 4 miles, on private land
Size: 3.5 acres
Cause: Lightning
Containment: 100%
Hedge Hog Fire
Location: In the Brownville area, five miles southeast of Lead, SD
Size: 0.25 acre
Cause: Lightning
Containment: 100%
Red Hill Fire
Location: On private land, 1/2 mile southeast of Bald Hill, next to Custer State Park
Size: 0.25 acre
Cause: Lightning
Containment: 100%
Fanny Fire
Location: Bureau of Land Management, 2 miles SSW of Sullivan Peak, WY
Size: 0.5 acre
Cause: Lightning
Containment: 100%
Kiss Fire
Location: Three miles south of the Timon Campground, in the Geranium Park Area
Size: 0.38 acre
Cause: Lightning
Containment: Unknown
Burdock Fire
Location: Next to the Northern Rail line, 2 miles southeast of Burdock
Size: 0.38 acre
Cause: under investigation
Containment: 100%
Ryland Fire
Location: Near Vision Peak in the Bear Lodge Mountains
Size: 0.1 acre
Cause: Lightning
Containment: Unknown
Pinnacles Fire
Location: Near Interstate 90, Exit 120, seven miles southeast of Wall, SD
Size: 30 acres
Cause: Lightning
Containment: Unknown
Mossagate Fire Contained
According to Incident Commander Brian Daunt, the 4,314 acre Mossagate Fire is now 100 percent contained. He repeated his appreciation to the great assistance from the volunteer fire departments and the good interagency work accomplished on the fire. The Mossagate Fire was a lightning caused fire that started on July 21. The fire threatened numerous structures, oil field infrastructure, and burned several miles into the state of Wyoming.
Myrtle Fire Information at (605) 939-0354 or on the web at www.inciweb.org/incident/3028/
Longhorn Fire Information at (605) 747-2046 / (605) 747-2707 or on the web at www.inciweb.org/incident/3030/
Fairfield Creek Fire Information at (402) 382-3500
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518 St. Joseph St.
Telephone: 605.342.2000 
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