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Black Hills Fire Update –
Morning Report
Rapid City, SD –
Eastridge Fire
Size: 2,000 acres
Containment: 10% contained. Structural protection is a priority.
Road Closures: Heavy traffic and onlookers have caused traffic jams in the vicinity of the fire. Please do not travel to the area to view the fire activity.
Please do not stop to view the fire activity from vehicles along roadways. Evacuated residents can go to the Red Cross Shelter at Central High School in Rapid City. The Red Cross information phone number is (605) 342-4010.
Resources on the Fire: More resources will arrive today.
Helicopters: 5
Heavy Air Tankers: 3
Crews: 1
Engines: 23
Current Status
The East Ridge Fire continues to threaten homes south of Elk Creek Road and north of Interstate 90. Hundreds of homes have been evacuated and road closures are in place.
The Northern Great Plains Type 2 Incident Management Team with incident commander Joe Lowe has set up an Incident Command Post at the Stagebarn Elementary School. “These are my friends and neighbors,” said Incident Commander Joe Lowe. “My own home has been evacuated, so this fire is very near and dear to my heart.”
Firefighters worked through the night to protect homes and structures. Some structures were lost; however, the location and number of the structures lost has not yet been confirmed. The Sheriff is assessing the situation to identify lost structures.
Burnout operations on the west side of the fire began last night. The hillside was engulfed in flames and smoked poured into the sky as firefighters used fire to fight fire. The burnout consumed fuels between the main fire and a dozer line constructed yesterday. Burnout operations will continue today. The general public may be alarmed to see the flames and smoke from these burnouts; however, burnouts are a proven fire fighting method and will greatly aid the containment of the fire. Helicopter bucket drops will also be a major part of the suppression efforts today. Helicopter bucket drops will concentrate on structural protection, stopping any spot fires ahead of the main fire, and further securing the dozer lines on the west side of the fire.
The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning due to the high temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds. “This is going to be a tough day,” said Operations Section Chief Jim Strain during the firefighter’s morning briefing. “We will do everything we can out there, but it is not worth your life.” Firefighter and public safety is the first priority.
Firefighting resources are stretched thin nationwide due to large catastrophic fires. The National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) has raised the national preparedness level to Level 5. Level 5 is the highest level of preparedness. Fires are competing for resources and NICC is prioritizing these resources. A Type 1 Team has been ordered for the East Ridge Fire. Type 1 team members will begin arriving late tonight and it is estimated that they will take over management of the fire late Saturday.
Black Hills National Forest
Firefighters continued to make progress through the night on multiple small fires across the Black Hills.
The west Pass creek Fire is in mop up stage with ten engines and two hand crews working to put the fire out.
Other new starts have been detected this morning and firefighters are preparing for red flag warnings for later today and record high temperatures across the Northern Great Plains.
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