RAPID CITY, S.D. – Fire crews continue battling a wildfire in North Rapid City west of Haines Avenue and Auburn Drive.
Great Plains Fire Dispatch has named the fire the Auburn Fire. It began off Henderson Drive as a grass fire and is being pushed north by a south wind.
The fire has led to numerous evacuations.
Evacuations of sections of Edgewood Estates and Pinecrest Village have been ordered as well as the western edge of Kimberly Circle has been evacuated. Kimberly Circle is closed to public. Marvel Mountain area has also been evacuated.
A pre-evacuation order for residents south of Elk Creek Road north of the Pennington County Line, east of Erickson Ranch Road and West of Haines Avenue has been issued. They are advised an evacuation may be ordered.
Peaceful Pines Road and Deadwood Avenue north of I-90 have been closed. Lofty Pines Road at Erickson Ranch Road is also closed.
In their evening update, fire officials say on the north and east sides of the fire, firefighters are going as direct as possible to install containment lines.
On the west side of the fire, firefighters are scouting the area, looking for control features that will provide for the highest probability of success.
On the south side, firefighters are holding, patrolling, and mopping up.
No structures are known to be lost.
This is video of the fire shared by the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office:
A current look at the Auburn Fire from the north end of Deadwood Avenue. pic.twitter.com/Pi9nk15331
— RapidCityPD (@RapidCityPD) October 5, 2021
The fire so far has burned between 250-300 acres. There is no containment.
Federal and state firefighters have responded along with air support – which includes a single-engine air tanker (SEAT) and heavy helicopters.
The flames are being fueled by abnormally high temperatures and gusty winds, coupled with drought-like dryness.
Here are more pictures of the fire sent in from our listeners and Facebook friends:
courtesy of Amy Marler Berke
Courtesy of Kassidy Yvonne
Courtesy Luke Wilgers
Courtesy of Melissa Crouch
Courtesy of Michelle Menard
Courtesy of Tyler Prewitt
Courtesy of Jacob West.
More pictures linked to the fire story on the KBHB Facebook page.
