Wildland Fires Break Out in Western South Dakota
- WeatherSD
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
The strong winds and dry conditions in the western parts of South Dakota have caused some flare-ups on several wildland fires.
The Greyhound Fire, located about two to three miles east of Keystone in the Black Hills, had burned about 150 acres as of Wednesday afternoon. Fire crews from federal, state, and local departments have been attacking the fire as it moves eastward.
During the afternoon, evacuations along State Highway 40 between Playhouse Rd and Rushmore Ranch Rd, expanding 2 miles north, have been given according to the Pennington County Sheriff's Office.
The reason for the fire is currently unknown.
Shortly after 1:30 p.m. MST on Wednesday, the Rapid City Fire Department, the Whispering Pines & Rapid Valley Volunteer Fire Departments, and South Dakota Wildland Resources responded to reports of multiple fires in the Skyline Drive area. Initially, three fires, two merged into one, reportedly linked to downed power lines, but the exact cause is still under investigation.
Reports from Wednesday afternoon stated that fire crews had stopped the fire's spread and established handlines around it. Fortunately, no structures were threatened, and there was no need for evacuations at the time of the fire.
Authorities request that you steer clear of the area due to ongoing operations and downed power lines to ensure the safety of the firefighters.
The region has already experienced strong winds, with forecasts predicting even stronger gusts overnight. This afternoon, wind gusts over 60mph have been recorded, with the strongest winds so far about seven miles east of Sturgis at 69mph.
Afternoon Wind Gusts Reports:
7 mi E Sturgis - 69.00mph
2 mi ENE Rockerville - 65.00mph
4 mi E Dwtn Spearfish - 64.00mph
6 mi NNW Dwtn Spearfish - 63.00mph
4 mi S Dwtn Rapid City - 62.00mph
