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Storm Hill Fire Closes Highways 16 & 385 Saturday Night

Jim Strain
/
South Dakota Division of Wildland Fire

The Storm Hill Fire kept crews busy this weekend in the Black Hills.    The fire is burning on about 193 acres near Hill City.  

It forced the closure of two major Black Hills highways for a few hours on Saturday night and into Sunday morning.  

Officials continue to warn drivers to watch for emergency vehicles around the three forks area on Highways 16 and 385.

Cyd Janssen  is with Great Plains Fire Information.   She says cooler temperatures and higher humidity are helping fire crews get the upper hand.  

There is rain in the forecast.  But Janssen says due to a high concentration of downed timber in the area this fire will continue to smolder and smoke for some time.

“And the fuels there are heavy, it’s a heavy bug killed area and smoke will be visible for several days.  They’ve got lots of dead and down as well,” says Janssen.

Officials say the fire was human caused and an investigation is underway.

You can find a link to more information and a number of photos of the Storm Hill Fire on the Great Plains Fire Information Blog.