RAPID CITY, S.D. – Bitterly cold temperatures hampered firefighters as an early morning fire destroyed a Rapid Valley home.
Firefighters responded to the home in the 4400 block of Kimm Street at approximately 4:35 a.m. to find the structure fully engulfed in flames.
Pennington County Fire Administrator Jerome Harvey says they were able to initially check to see if anyone was trapped inside before determining the home was vacant. Firefighters were pushed back by the intensity of the flames and had to attack the fire from a distance. Fire crews remained on scene for several hours.
The home was destroyed and fire crews were on the defensive to make sure the flames didn’t spread to any neighboring homes.
No injuries have been reported to civilians, domestic animals or firefighters.
The South Dakota state fire marshal and Pennington County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the circumstances behind the fire.
