A response to a small wildland fire in the Black Hills National Forest took an unexpected turn Monday when emergency crews discovered a homemade explosive device near the fire scene, according to the Custer County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff’s officials said county responders were en route to address the fire when they located the suspicious device. The discovery immediately posed a safety risk to firefighters and emergency personnel and temporarily delayed efforts to combat the blaze as authorities shifted their focus to securing the area.
In a social media post, the sheriff’s office said the device appeared to be a homemade version of Tannerite, a binary exploding target commonly used for recreational shooting.
After further inspection, authorities safely removed the device and transported it to a secure location, where it was destroyed in a controlled explosion.
Officials said the incident not only endangered first responders but also slowed the response to the wildfire, requiring emergency personnel to prioritize the potential explosive threat before continuing firefighting operations.
No injuries were reported, and authorities have not announced whether the device’s origin is under investigation.
The wildland fire was described as small, and no additional information about its cause or size was immediately available. Authorities are urging the public to follow fire restrictions and report suspicious activity to help protect both emergency responders and public lands.
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