HOT SPRINGS, S.D. – Officials in Hot Springs are dealing with a devastating fire that began shortly after 8:30 Monday night.
Frank Maynard is the Fall River County Emergency Management Director. He says the 9-1-1 call came in at approximately 8:36 p.m.
“The caller reported the smell of smoke in the Vault building; that’s a restaurant and bar,” Maynard said.
“Fire crews responded and we could smell the smoke and temperatures were rising significantly in the building and that’s when offensive action was taken by the fire department to begin the suppression because at that point we had a break through of flame.”
Maynard says the Vault, China Buffet and quilt and ice cream shop are either substantially damaged or destroyed. The fire moved from the Vault Restaurant to the China Buffet and then into the quilt shop and ice cream shop.
Maynard says resources were called in from around the area, including Pennington County, to provide assistance. He anticipates firefighters remaining on scene most of the day.
“We have a new shift of firefighters coming in and we are working on hot spots and flare ups and things of that nature. We are also waiting for the fire marshal to come in and begin investigating the cause of the fire.”
Because fire trucks are still on scene, Highway 385 is closed in the vicinity and Maynard encourages residents to stay out of the area.
There have been no reports of injuries, but Maynard says a lot of sand has been brought in after water being used to fight the fire froze, making the scene slippery.
Maynard says almost a full block of businesses has been destroyed.
***(THIS IS AN UPDATE TO OUR INITIAL STORY BELOW)***
HOT SPRINGS, S.D. – A massive fire has destroyed at least two businesses in downtown Hot Springs and others remain threatened.
Fall River Emergency Management says the Vault Restaurant and Bar and China Buffet have been destroyed by fire and the neighboring Quilt Shop business is also affected.
The fire was initially reported around 8:30 Monday night as fire crews were sent to the Vault Restaurant. The fire then spread from there.
Resources from multiple agencies have been helping to battle the flames.
Pennington County has sent resources to the scene. Jerome Harvey with Pennington County says on Facebook they are providing assistance to Hot Springs firefighters.
