A quick response Tuesday afternoon by local, state, and federal crews kept a lightning-caused fire in the central section of Wind Cave National Park from being much worse.
Wind Cave Chief of Interpretation Tom Farrell says the Gobbler Fire was reported at 1:54 and declared controlled at 5:05 after burning just 1-½ acres.
Farrell says crews were dispatched to begin suppression efforts immediately after the first report came in.
Personnel and equipment responded from the National Park Service, U-S Forest Service, Hot Springs Volunteer Fire Department, and South Dakota Wildland Fire along with 2 Single-Engine Air Tankers (SEATs) based at the Hot Springs Airport.
       National Park Service crews continued to monitor the fire overnight while crews from outside the park were released shortly after control was declared.
      Farrell says that as the weather heats up and the fire danger increases, visitors to the region are urged to be careful with their outdoor activities.Â