RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Great Plains Fire Information Center in Rapid City says area firefighters battled 3 wildfires over the past 2 days.
The first was the Spotted Tail Fire, reported Sunday afternoon about 4:00 roughly 5 miles south of Chadron. Crews had it contained within 3 hours at 3.7-acres, apparently the largest of the 3 blazes.
The Lady Ranch Fire in Wind Cave National Park was blamed on lightning and reported a little before 11:00 Monday morning 4-miles north-northwest of Hot Springs.
Local, state, and federal firefighters were aided by helicopters that drew water from Cold Brook Lake, forcing it to close to the public for a time. Fall River County announced the closure in a Facebook post.
Initially listed at a tenth of an acre by the Great Plains Fire Information Center at mid-afternoon, the size estimate was later increased to a quarter-acre.
Little information has been released on the third fire, the Wayne Road Fire on state land west of Alliance. It was reported just after 1:00 Monday afternoon, but no information has been released on its size or cause.