UPDATE: Firefighters contain fire in Custer State Park

CUSTER, S.D. (KOTA) - Firefighters have reportedly stopped the forward progress on the Badger Clark Fire in Custer State Park, containing it at an estimated 58 acres.

The fire, at the intersection of Highway 16A and Needles Highway, was reported just before 10 p.m. Thursday. Overnight, firefighters were concerned that high winds would cause problems but they were still able to contain the fire. However, they would not guess on when the fire would be controlled.

Friday morning, crews were working to strengthen control lines as well as conducting mop-up operations in some areas.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The Badger Clark Fire is in the same area as the December 2018 Legion Lake Fire that burned 54,000 acres. It was the third largest fire in recorded South Dakota history. That fire burned in Custer State Park as well as Wind Cave National Park and on private land.

Previous Information

(8:40 a.m. Friday) We have the latest figures on the wild fire that started east of Legion Lake Friday.

WildCAD Great Plains Interagency Dispatch Center’s website is reporting that the Badger Clark Fire is now at 58 acres.

Multiple local and regional fire agencies remain on scene as they work to put out the fire. There is no update on containment.

(6:32 a.m. Friday)

Fire agencies are working to control a wild fire that broke out in Custer State Park overnight.

Just after 9:08 p.m. on Thursday, firefighting agencies were notified of a fire burning just east of Legion Lake along Badger Clark Road, according to firefighters on the scene.

As of 1 a.m. Friday, the fire has burned approximately 15 acres.

Firefighters are actively protecting some homes in the area, but no structures are reported to have been damaged.

Responders on the scene say they have the blaze surrounded, but are concerned the high winds could cause the fire to spark elsewhere. They say they are watching to make sure the fire does not hop north over Highway 16A.

The fire is just north of where the Legion Lake Fire started that burned 54,000 acres in Dec. 2017.

South Dakota Wildland Fire, U.S Forest Service, Custer Volunteer Fire Department, Battle Creek Volunteer Fire Department, and other emergency services are currently on site.

We will provide further updates as they become available.

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