The Great Plains Fire Information Center in Rapid City says firefighters in its tri-state service area responded to 13 fires yesterday including 4 in Dawes, Sioux, and Fall River counties.
The largest was the Pleasant Ridge Fire on the west side of Hwy 385, just north of the Nebraska-South Dakota state line. The lightning-caused fire was reported at 5:39 and contained by local and federal crews at 7:50, but not before it burned 91-acres.
The only other of the 4 local fires more than 1 acre in size was the Airport Road Fire near the Chadron airport at 35 acres. It, too, was blamed on lightning.
Federal fire crews limited the Cottonwood Fire in the Montrose area north of Harrison and 5 miles north of the Gilbert Baker Wildlife Management Area to 1-10th of an acre.
The Pink School House Fire south of Harrison at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument was held to 2-10ths of an acre by a combination of local and federal firefighters.