Area fire departments responded to a large grass fire that had spread into some steep canyon land in south central South Dakota. BIA received the initial call on Saturday evening around 5pm for a van on fire between Mission and White River north of the intersection of Hwys 18 an 83. This fire evidently spread to nearby grass and then into the brush and trees in the canyon nearby, pushed by strong winds. Along with BIA, Mission Fire and Rescue Chief Joe Moore states that some of the other departments to respond from the two state region included Mission, Rosebud, White River, Wood, Vetal, Murdo, Kilgore, and Valentine. BIA was just returning from a large bale fire at Parmalee when this call came out.
According to the BIA Facebook page, about 187 acres were burned in the weekend blaze.
Be sure to exercise great caution this week around north central Nebraska and south central South Dakota as the weather calls for warmer temperatures and gusty, windy conditions.