Pretty Flower Fire Update For 2-22-2017

Hayward, S.D. - This morning, two engines and two hand crews from South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression remain on the scene of the Pretty Flower Fire to complete mop-up operations. As of 10 am, Incident Commander Ray Bubb is listing the Pretty Flower Fire as 100% contained. 

Overnight, two engines and one Incident Commander from the Keystone Fire Department remained on scene to monitor the fire and continue mop-up operations. The fire area received some precipitation which allowed fire management to release one of those engines. Although precipitation was received, the area was already dry as of 10 am this morning courtesy of breezy conditions that exist within the fire area.

At just after 10 am yesterday morning, February 21, Pennington County 911 received a report of a possible structure fire in the area of Pretty Flower Ln. and South Dakota Highway 40 near the Hayward Fire Station. What initially appeared to be a structure fire was a fast moving wildland fire. Fueled by dead, dry, receptive fuels and pushed by wind gusts approaching 40 mph, the fire spread quickly. The fire burned on primarily private land.

Location: Between Keystone and Hermosa, S.D. near the intersection of Pretty Flower Ln. and South Dakota Highway 40 near a community known as Hayward, S.D.

Size: 33.13 acres. This adjustment reflects more accurate GPS mapping.

Containment: The fire is 100% contained as of 10:00 am MST on February 22, 2017.

Resources Threatened: No resources are currently threatened. Yesterday, approximately 20-30 homes in the Rushmore Ranch Road area were threatened. The Hayward Fire Station was among the structures threatened. No structures were damaged or destroyed during the incident.

Evacuations: All evacuation orders have been lifted.

Closures/Restrictions: Rushmore Ranch Rd. and roads off of Rushmore Ranch Rd. are re-opened to local traffic. Emergency vehicle traffic will continue today as crews complete mop-up operations.

Cause: Investigators have determined that the fire is human caused. A slash pile that was burned by a land owner while acceptable snow-cover existed  appears to have escaped containment.

Pretty Flower Incident Management would like to take this opportunity to remind landowners that have burned slash piles this winter to check their piles. Although acceptable snow-cover may have existed during their burning activities, those piles may remain hot and could pose a risk to escape containment. Landowners are responsible for continuing to check their piles.

The successful resolution of this incident is due to outstanding interagency cooperation and the dedication of responders. City, County, State and Federal resources all demonstrated quick, professional skill which ultimately led to no structures being damaged or destroyed and brought the Pretty Flower Fire to a safe conclusion.

This represents the last release of information from this page. Any subsequent releases of information regarding the Pretty Flower Fire will be issued by the South Dakota Division of Wildland Fire Suppression.

 Contact Jim Bussell, Pretty Flower Fire Public Information Officer, at 605-863-0061 for questions regarding this release.

-END-

Pretty Flower Fire Evening Update

Crews make good progress, evacuations lifted

 

 

Hayward, S.D. - Crews made good progress throughout the afternoon today leading to increased containment of the Pretty Flower Fire.

At just after 10 am this morning, Pennington County 911 received a report of a possible structure fire in the area of Pretty Flower Ln. and South Dakota Highway 40 near the Hayward Fire Station. What initially appeared to be a structure fire was a fast moving wildland fire. Fueled by dead, dry, receptive fuels and pushed by wind gusts approaching 40 mph, the fire spread quickly. The fire burned on primarily private land.

As of 5:30, fire crews are beginning to demobilize and leave the fire scene. Two engines and an Incident Commander will remain on the fire overnight. Tomorrow, two engines and two hand crews from South Dakota Wildland Fire will continue mop-up operations and work to achieve 100% containment.

 

Location: Between Keystone and Hermosa S.D. near the intersection of Pretty Flower Ln. and South Dakota Highway 40 near a community known as Hayward, S.D.

 

Size: 33.13 acres. This adjustment reflects more accurate GPS mapping.

 

Containment: The fire is 75% contained as of 5:30 pm MST.

 

Resources Threatened: No resources are currently threatened. Earlier today, approximately 20-30 homes in the Rushmore Ranch Road area were threatened. The Hayward Fire Station was among the structures threatened.

 

Evacuations: All evacuation orders have been lifted.

 

Closures/Restrictions: Rushmore Ranch Rd. and roads off of Rushmore Ranch Rd. are re-opened to local traffic. Heavy emergency vehicle traffic will continue overnight.

 

Cause: Investigators have determined that the fire is human caused. A slash pile that was burned by a land owner while acceptable snow-cover existed  appears to have escaped containment.

Pretty Flower Incident Management would like to take this opportunity to remind landowners that have burned slash piles this winter to check their piles. Although acceptable snow-cover may have existed during their burning activities, those piles may remain hot and could pose a risk to escape containment. Landowners are responsible for continuing to check their piles.
 

There are no further anticipated releases from this page unless significant activity occurs. Please tune to local media outlets for further updates.

 Contact Jim Bussell, Pretty Flower Fire Public Information Officer, at 605-863-0061 for questions regarding this release.

 Pretty Fire Evacuations Lifted

Rushmore Ranch Open to Local Traffic

 

Hayward, S.D. - As of 4:10 pm MST, all evacuation orders related to the Pretty Flower Fire have been lifted.

 

Rushmore Ranch Road and roads off of Rushmore Ranch Rd. are open to local traffic only.

 

 

Please contact Pretty Flower Fire Public Information Officer Jim Bussell at (605)-863-0061.

 

-END-

Pretty Flower Fire Update

Wildland Fire Near Hayward Continues to Burn, Threaten Structures

 

Hayward, S.D. - At just after 10 am this morning, Pennington County 911 received a report of a possible structure fire in the area of Pretty Flower Ln. and South Dakota Highway 40 near the Hayward Fire Station. What initially appeared to be a structure fire was a fast moving wildland fire. Fueled by dead, dry, receptive fuels and pushed by wind gusts approaching 40 mph, the fire spread quickly. The fire is burning on primarily private land.

 

Location: Between Keystone and Hermosa S.D. near the intersection of Pretty Flower Ln. and South Dakota Highway 40 near a community known as Hayward, S.D.

 

Size: Approximately 30-40 acres. This estimate is anticipated to change with more accurate mapping.

 

Containment: The fire is 10% contained at this time.

 

Resources Threatened: Approximately 20-30 homes in the Rushmore Ranch Road area are threatened. The Hayward Fire Station is among the structures threatened.

 

Evacuations: 20-30 residences have been asked to evacuate in the Rushmore Ranch Road area. A reception center for evacuees has been established at the Keystone Community Center by the American Red Cross serving Central and Western South Dakota and Pennington County Emergency Management.

 

Closures/Restrictions: Rushmore Ranch Rd. and roads off of Rushmore Ranch Rd. are closed at this time. Pretty Flower incident Command requests that South Dakota Highway 40 be restricted to local and emergency traffic only.

 

Cause: Investigators have determined that the fire is human caused. A slash pile that was burned by a land owner while acceptable snow-cover existed  appears to have escaped containment.

Pretty Flower Incident Management would like to take this opportunity to remind landowners that have burned slash piles this winter to check their piles. Although acceptable snowcover may have existed during their burning activities, those piles may remain hot and could pose a risk to escape containment. Landowners are responsible for continuing to check their piles.
 

An updated release is planned for 5 pm MST unless significant activity occurs.

Updates may also be found on Twitter by following @PennCoIMT3 or by searching #PrettyFlowerFire.

Contact Jim Bussell, Pretty Flower Fire Public Information Officer, at 605-863-0061 for questions regarding this release.

Above: Panoramic view near the point of origin.

Above: A view of the fire area from Rushmore Ranch Rd. looking west.

Above: Fire came very, very close to a number of structures, including this one.

Above: One of the primary residences threatened by the Pretty Flower Fire.

Pretty Flower Fire Burning Between Hermosa and Keystone

Evacuations Underway

 

Hayward, SD - A fast burning wildland fire between Hermosa and Keystone, S.D. has forced the evacuation of 20-30 homes in the area.

 

The fire, known as the Pretty Flower Fire, is being managed by Pennington County Fire Service agencies in cooperation with State agencies. The fire is burning on mostly private land and is estimated to be 20-30 acres. That estimate will be adjusted with more accurate mapping.

 

20-30 residences are evacuated. Pennington County Emergency Management and the American Red Cross serving Central and Western SD has established an evacuee reception center at the Keystone Community Center. In addition to structures, infrastructure such as wells and power lines are threatened.

 

The fire is 0% contained at this time.

 

No injuries have been reported.

 

Approximately 75 firefighters are on scene. Two wildland hand crews are on scene as well as a bulldozer from South Dakota Wildland Fire Suppression.

 

Closures include all roads off of Rushmore Ranch Rd. Incident Command requests that Highway 40 traffic be limited to emergency vehicles and local traffic only.

 

There is no current estimate on a containment date or time.

 

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

 

An updated release is planned for 3:00 pm MST.

 

Please contact Jim Bussell, Pretty Flower Public Information Officer, at 605-863-0061 for questions related to this release.

 

-END-