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Wind Cave prescribed fire set for Sunday, Monday

A firefighter monitors a prescribed burn at Wind Cave National Park in 2008. Officials hope to hold a similar prescribed burn on Sunday and Monday.
Tom Ferrell
/
Wind Cave National Park
A firefighter monitors a prescribed burn at Wind Cave National Park in 2008. Officials hope to hold a similar prescribed burn on Sunday and Monday.

Officials say they will hold a prescribed burn in portions of Wind Cave National Park in the Black Hills.

Fire crews will hold a test burn Sunday morning. If favorable conditions remain, the park hopes to burn 1,038 acres into Monday.

Fire helps restore the natural balance between the forest, prairie and cave.

The burn was delayed by a week. It’s part of routine prescribed fires the park ideally holds in various burn units every 12 to 15 years.

The prescribed burn area includes the Elk Mountain Campground and is adjacent to the visitor’s center.

Smoke may be heavy along highways 385 and 87. Trails and other locations will be closed to everyone but fire personnel.

Lee Strubinger is SDPB’s Rapid City-based news and political reporter. A former reporter for Fort Lupton Press (CO) and Colorado Public Radio, Lee holds a master’s in public affairs reporting from the University of Illinois-Springfield.
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