RAPID CITY, S.D. – A wildfire that started on private property along Schroeder Road exploded Monday, sending fire fighters scrambling and led to the evacuation of several subdivisions west of Rapid City.
Dubbed the Schroeder Road Fire, the fire is burning in an area previously burned by the Westberry Trails Fire in 1988.
Fire Information Officer Rob Powell says the fire quickly skipped through a canyon and into the Westberry Canyon area. A cold front that came through changed the fire’s direction and this evening, areas of concern were the Nameless Cave and Cleghorn Canyon area.
Despite the strong wind, he says fire crews are making good progress and hope to keep it from crossing Highway 44.
Powell says among the subdivisions evacuated include Westberry Trails subdivision, Cavern Road, Nameless Cave Road, Cleghorn Canyon Road, Pinedale Heights area west of Berry Pine Heights Drive, Dark Canyon and Magic Canyon Road.
When asked if any more evacuations could be possible, Powell says the current list includes those areas of concern that were ahead of the fire’s progress, and unless something changes, he didn’t anticipate anything further.
In a Monday evening update, fire officials reported two outbuildings and a residential home had been lost.
Schroeder Road has been reopened to residents but the rest of the evacuation orders remain in effect.
Authorities are asking the public to stay out of the area so firefighters can get in and work.
Map of evacuation areas:
The Schroeder Fire isn’t the only fire keeping crews busy.
Great Plains Fire Dispatch also reports two separate fires burning in the Keystone area.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who was at this afternoon’s press conference discussing the Schroeder Road Fire, says one fire is estimated at 75 acres, the other, 40 acres.
Highway 244 is closed from Keystone to the stoplight at Mount Rushmore Memorial. Highway 16A beginning at Grizzly Campground is also closed.
The fires are burning in heavy dead and downed timber with very high potential for spread due to very high winds, however officials say they are not threatening any structures or Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
Fire officials say there is also a dangerous grass fire burning between Kadoka and Murdo. The fire jumped I-90 as it burned aggressively to the south.
That fire shut down the Interstate between the two towns. It has since been reopened.
***ABOVE STORY IS AN UPDATE FROM OUR EARLIER VERSION BELOW***
RAPID CITY, S.D. – A wildfire incident near Schroeder Road in the Nemo Area has led to numerous evacuations as strong winds push the fire south.
Fire crews responded to the blaze earlier today.
The fire has led to several evacuations. Areas under evacuation orders include the Westberry Trails subdivision, Cavern Road, Nameless Cave Road, Cleghorn Canyon Road, Pinedale Heights area west of Berry Pine Heights Drive, Dark Canyon and Magic Canyon Road.
As of 2:30 Monday, officials had reopened Nemo Road to through traffic and announced restricted access, or checkpoints on Westberry Trails and Schroeder Road.
Those who have evacuated can go to South Canyon Baptist Church, 3333 W. Chicago St. #2317, where the Red Cross is set up to help assist them.
An estimate on the fire is difficult, but fire officials earlier thought 200 acres initially may have burned.
Authorities are asking the public to stay out of the area so firefighters can get in and work.
There are some road closures in the area due to the fire activity including Highway 44 from Chapel Lane to Johnson Siding #2.
The fire has also led to some power outages in the area.
As of 10:20 am, about 558 customers are without electric power in the west Rapid City area near South Canyon Road and Schroeder Road area and an outage impacting about 65 customers in the Keystone area.
Black Hills Energy operation crews stand ready to respond when conditions are safe for crews to restore power.
The Schroeder Road Fire isn’t the only fire keeping crews busy.
Great Plains Dispatch reports another fire located 1.5 miles southwest of Keystone has burned approximately 20 acres. The fire has been named the 244 Fire.
Department of Public Safety officials say U.S. Highway16A (Iron Mountain Road) from S.D. Highway 244 to S.D. Highway 36 is closed due to the fire.
The fire is burning in heavy dead and downed timber with very high potential for spread due to very high winds.
Meanwhile, a grass fire has led the to closure of I-90 between Kadoka and Murdo. The state DOT reports Interstate 90 is closed effective immediately from Exit 150 at Kadoka to Exit 192 at Murdo.
This section of I-90 will remained closed until it is safe to reopen to motorists.
***WE WILL UPDATE THIS STORY AS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE
