RCFD Veteran Wildfire Mitigation Crew Plans to Burn Slash Piles

Prescribed burning dependent on snow cover

Rapid City, S.D. – The Rapid City Fire Department plans to conduct slash-pile burning in the Skyline Drive area of Rapid City beginning Friday and continuing Monday. The burning will depend on snow cover from a snow storm that is to affect the area later this week. Should the snowfall totals fall short of forecast amounts, the burning will be postponed.

The pile burning will be conducted by the Rapid City Fire Department Veteran Wildfire Mitigation Crew under the direction of Lt. Tim Weaver. In a statement, Lt. Weaver said; “These piles are being burned as a continuation of the wildland fire hazardous fuel reduction project in the Skyline Wilderness Park that has taken place over the past 2 years.” Weaver went on to say; “This hazardous fuel reduction project exemplifies the Rapid City Fire Department’s desire to create fire resilient landscapes with in the city limits in areas that are at risk for catastrophic wildfire behavior. This is part of our Survivable Space Initiative which helps landowners in Rapid City create fire adapted landscapes on their property.”

Smoke and flames will be visible clearly from the area of the burning operation. Smoke may linger for several days after the piles burn down. The RCFD Veteran Wildfire Mitigation Crew will continue to monitor the area in the days following the project. Please DO NOT call 9-1-1 to report the burning piles.

For more information on the prescribed burning, please contact Lt. Tim Weaver at (605)-394-5233 or at (605)-390-4114.

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