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.

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