Custer State Park

Winds are bad... and they haven't had much snow yet. Hope they get some water soon!

Fires on the plains are not unusual or bad for the land. What disturbs me greatly is South Dakota needs donations to feed bison from normal fires? Bad planning? Bad budgetary decisions? If SD wants to continue as the custodian, get it together.

This is terrible news. We camp at Custer S.P. every Fall. We receive updates about the fire by email from the SD G.F.&P.

Here's the latest:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017
MEDIA CONTACT: 605.673.8980 or kobee.stalder@state.sd.us

Park Officials Provide Legion Lake Fire Update

CUSTER STATE PARK, S.D. – Late Tuesday evening, high wind gusts aligned with the canyon in the French Creek Natural Area and caused spotting in several areas west of the Wildlife Loop Road. The spotting moved across the Wildlife Loop Road and out of the Custer State Park Boundary creating rapid fire growth.

The Legion Lake Fire, now in its third day, grew overnight to an estimated 31,000 acres, bringing the total acreage to an estimated 35,000. Containment remains at seven percent.

Firefighters from local, state and federal agencies were utilized for structure defense, east past the Custer State Park boundary, down Lame Johnny Road to the intersection of Highway 79. The fire was held west of Highway 79 due to successful burnouts.

Another spot fire by French Creek Horse Camp moved south, southeast through Custer State Park. Due to the rates of spread, fire behavior, numerous values at risk and structure protection elsewhere, active suppression actions were not attempted.

The fire traveled south, moving through Wind Cave National Park, reaching just west of Buffalo Gap on Road 101 (also known as 7-11 road).

A burnout operation around the State Game Lodge area for structure protection began late Tuesday evening into early morning and has been successful.

No primary structures were compromised throughout the night, but there have been outbuilding and fences lost.

Highway 79 remains closed from Hermosa to Hot Springs. Evacuations for the towns of Fairburn and Buffalo Gap remain current.

Main objectives for Wednesday include analyzing and mapping the exact location of the fire growth, keeping the fire east of Highway 87, active suppression, structure defense, creation of dozer lines and retardant drops throughout the day as conditions allow. Burnout operations around the State Game Lodge area will also continue as conditions allow.

Winds will remain out of the northwest at 15 to 25 miles per hour with gusts up to 40 miles per hour. The temperature is predicted to reach 45 degrees.

-GFP-

It is NOT terrible news, 3oaks. It’s necessary and natural. “The benefits of fire are enormous.” See and learn from the National Park Service at https://www.nps.gov/tapr/learn/nature/fire-and-grazing-in-the-prairie.htm

It’s not all bad. Fire is actually beneficial to grasslands. It speeds nutrients to the soil and suppresses tree encroachment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f71NlBsq8e8

Mortimer Brewster wrote:
It’s not all bad. Fire is actually beneficial to grasslands. It speeds nutrients to the soil and suppresses tree encroachment.

With that statement, it is very apparent you are not familiar with that part of SW South Dakota at all. :R

It is in the Black Hills of SD, not prairie grass lands. Picture mountains with thick forests of Black Pine and Oak trees and meadows. :@

3oaks wrote:

Mortimer Brewster wrote:
It’s not all bad. Fire is actually beneficial to grasslands. It speeds nutrients to the soil and suppresses tree encroachment.

With that statement, it is very apparent you are not familiar with that part of SW South Dakota at all. :R

It is in the Black Hills of SD, not prairie grass lands. Picture mountains with thick forests of Black Pine and Oak trees and meadows. :@

Actually I have been there many times. Here is a picture I took in Custer State Park when I was last there in 2015. Those wacky buffalo must have eaten most of the trees. Now that i think about it, I'm fairly certain the buffalo in Custer State Park eat grass, not trees. I couldn't get the mountains in the shot, as they are about 400 miles to the west.


The fire is affecting both forested areas and grasslands in the area. Here is a satellite view showing the location of the fire as of Wednesday morning. As you can see, the land is not completely forested in the fire zone.



The point of my original post was that an occasional wildfire isn't necessarily a bad thing. The forested areas will recover, though it will certainly not be as scenic for a time. The buffalo will have a tougher winter than normal.

Thankfully the "no fire ever anywhere" club, where 3oaks is a member, is diminishing in size as they realize that fire is natural and beneficial to wild lands...prairie and forest.

To anyone who thinks this fire is trivial or beneficial:

Quote from the latest email update from SD FGPs:

“We are still in the midst of an active fire,” said Snyder. “Custer State Park is being impacted by the fourth largest fire in the history of the Black Hills. At the time our staff is released from working on imminent fire dangers, we will reassess our needs for all wildlife and other areas of the park.”

I emphasized with bold print.