The Silver Mountain Fire was reported Thursday at 11:15am located approximately 1 mile west of Rockerville, SD. The fire is currently estimated at 15-20 acres with federal, state, and local firefighters responding. Multiple air resources are aiding ground crews with suppression efforts to stop forward progression and establish a perimeter around the fire. Firefighter and public safety continue to be a top priority.
Pennington County Emergency Management and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office have issued an official pre-evacuation notification to residents impacted by the Silver Mountain Fire. Silver Mountain Road is currently closed. Please avoid the area to allow firefighters to continue suppression efforts.
Critical fire weather today continues to impact the Black Hills area with temperatures in the 60s and low relative humidity. A fire weather watch has been issued for tomorrow with breezy winds sustained at 10-20mph, and gusts up to 30mph expected. With continued critical fire weather across the area, Forest officials are asking the public to be extremely careful on the Forest with ignitions.
Update:
Overnight, firefighters staffed and patrolled the line to ensure the fire did not cross the established boundary. Containment has been increased to 75% and the size remains at 22 acres.
Today, firefighters will continue to strengthen control lines and mop-up near the fire’s edge. Mopping up makes a fire safer by extinguishing or removing burning and hazardous material within or close to the fire’s edge. Mop-up is hard, dirty, and tedious work that includes looking for smokes or hot spots in what otherwise looks like a cold area, and then extinguishing them.
For more information, please visit the Silver Mountain Fire Facebook page at: facebook.com/silvermountainfire2024/