Lightning Sparks small Fires around the Hills - KOTA Territory News

Lightning Sparks small Fires around the Hills

UPDATE 9:45PM 8-3:

Firefighters Busy Last Night and Today

Rapid City, SD – Three Fires have and continue to keep, firefighters busy through last night and today. The Cascade Fire was reported at 8:55 p.m. last night and the Bear Gulch Fire was reported at 2:30 p.m. this afternoon.

Cascade Fire

Is located seven miles south of Hot Springs west of Highway 71 and south of Sheps Canyon Road. It was controlled by resources from the Cascade Volunteer Fire Department (VFD), Hot Springs VFD, Minekhta VFD, State engines and an engine from Wind Cave National Park. This fire burned in the same area as the 2007 Alabaugh Fire. Threatened structures were less than 200 yards from the ignition point.

Size: 15.2 acres          Cause: Under investigation     Containment: Fully contained and controlled

Bear Gulch Fire

This fire is in Custer State Park ¼ mile northeast of Center Lake. State and Federal engines, two helicopters, Air Attack, a type I handcrew, state and federal dozers and 2 Blackhawk helicopters from South Dakota Army National Guard are working on this fire. A Type III management team will assume responsibility for the Bear Gulch fire in the morning on 8/4/2012. This fire is burning in the old Galena Fire area.

Size: Currently 20 acres                                

Cause: Under investigation    

Crawford Fire

This is a rekindle from a previous fire of approximately 300 acres. It is located approximately 5 miles south of Crawford, Nebraska. Resources from the Crawford Volunteer Fire Department (VFD), Harrison VFD, Chadron VFD, Hemmingford VFD, Nebraska National Forest, and two handcrews as well as aerial assets are operating on this fire.

Size: Unknown

Cause: Unknown                                containment: Unknown

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Lightning Ignited Fires in the Black Hills Keep Firefighters Busy

Rapid City, SD – Fuels in the Black Hills and surrounding areas are still very dry and susceptible to ignition from lightning strikes as demonstrated by the results of thunderstorm activity today. The storms ignited several fires in the area.

Turkey Hill Fire

The Turkey Hill Fire started on property of Camp Rapid and was controlled by resources from the Doty Volunteer Fire Department (VFD), Johnson Siding VFD, City of Rapid City and Black Hills National Forest. Aerial resources used included a type III helicopter 7TA with a helitack crew and a Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT). Smoke from this fire was visible from homes within a half mile and from Rapid City.

Size: 2.8 acres            Cause: Lightning         Containment: Fully Contained

Cummings Fire

Started approximately one mile east of Devils Tower National Monument and was attacked with resources from Crook County, Devils Tower National Monument, a Black Hills National Forest hand crew and helicopter 535 from Custer.

Size: 7 acres               Cause: Lightning         Containment: Contained

Irish Gulch Fire

One half mile north of Rochford.  Resources from the Rochford VFD, Black Hills National Forest and helicopter 7TA with a helitack crew.

Size: .25 acres            Cause: Lightning         Containment: Fully contained and controlled

Sell

Two miles south of Sundance, Wyoming.  Resources from the Black Hills National Forest, Arapahoe & Roosevelt National Forests, Spearfish VFD and helicopter 535 were utilized.  The fire was on private land.

Size: 2.5 acres            Cause: Lightning         Containment: Fully contained and controlled

Black Hills Dispatch also assisted with 2 fires in Nebraska on the Nebraska NF Bessey District and 1 additional fire in Wyoming on private land.