RAPID CITY, S.D. – Fire officials say the Schroeder Road Fire was active overnight, particularly in the Cleghorn Canyon and Nameless Cave areas.
Fire information indicates the fire crossed into Cleghorn Canyon and Nameless Cave overnight and there was an intense structure fight. Unfortunately, one home was lost. That home, according to the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, is on Blue Sky Road, and they say it has been the only confirmed home loss so far. There had been previous reports of at least two homes lost. Officials say some outbuildings have burned, but did not have a number as to how many.
The fire is still zero-percent contained at this time and has burned 1,900 acres.
The fire continues to burn in steep rough country inaccessible by roads. Due to reduced wind speeds, additional aircraft has been ordered and expected to aid in the effort today. A Type 2 Incident Management Team has been ordered and is expected to take over the fire at 6:00 PM today.
The incident objectives continue to be to keep the fire north of Highway 44, south of Nemo Road, west of Rapid City city limits, and east of Nameless Cave Road and Wild Irishman Road.
Crews continue to provide structure protection within the fire’s boundary.
As for evacuations, authorities are not advising any other evacuations at this time and they say lots of questions about Chapel Valley have come in. Fire officials, as of now, don’t feel any evacuations are necessary at this time.
Evacuations remain in effect for Westberry Trails, Nameless Cave Road, Cleghorn Canyon, Pinedale Heights west of Berry Pine Heights, Dark Canyon and Magic Canyon Road. Residents along Cavern Road were allowed to return home this afternoon.
Here is the latest evacuation area map:
Roads blocked at this time include Highway 44 at Chapel Lane, Highway 44 at Johnson Siding Fire Station #2, Red Dale at National Guard Way, Pine Dale Ridge at South Berry Pine Road and Westberry Hill Road at Nemo Road.
The Schroeder Fire began Monday morning on private property on Schroeder Road. Authorities say it is human-caused but have not said what sparked it.
