RAPID CITY, S.D. – Firefighters quickly extinguished a small wildfire Sunday afternoon in the Spring Creek drainage area behind Reptile Gardens south of Rapid City.
The Rockerville Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched around 3:50 p.m. after reports of smoke in the area following a storm that produced significant lightning activity. Local firefighters, along with state and federal resources, searched the rugged terrain to locate the source of the smoke.
Responders faced challenges when a second rainstorm moved through the area, temporarily reducing visibility and making the fire more difficult to locate.
After a 30-minute hike into the drainage, crews found a tree that had been struck by lightning and a small spot fire burning beneath it. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze and monitored the area to ensure all remaining hot spots were eliminated.
No injuries or property damage were reported. State forestry officials will continue monitoring the site in the coming days as a precaution.
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