Forest service officials are closing the Black Elks Wilderness as an estimated three to five-acre fire burns a half mile south east of a popular peak in the Black Hills.
The fire is twenty five percent contained. Officials are concerned about hazards in the area, which include steep terrain and several downed trees from a recent mountain pine beetle epidemic.
Tracy Anderson is the Hell Canyon District Ranger. She says the closure affects trails leading up to Black Elk Peak.
“And we did that primarily for visitor safety and for firefighter safety so that they’re not having people decide to try and hike into the fire,” Anderson says.
Approximately 70 personnel are responding to the fire. Two helicopters are deployed and performing bucket drops of water on the fire.
Crews are securing the perimeter.
Officials anticipate moderate to high potential for spread. They say cause of the fire was a lightning struck on July 20th.