Slash Pile Burning Planned for Springbrook Acres, M Hill

Prescribed burning dependent on snow cover

Rapid City, S.D. – Rapid City residents will see an increase in slash pile burning this week. The Rapid City Fire Department will issue burn permits allowing slash-pile burning in the Springbrook Acres common acreage. This area is located on the western slope of the Skyline Drive ridge-line above Springbrook Acres in Rapid City. Meanwhile, the RCFD Veteran Wildfire Mitigation Crew will burn slash piles on the south side of M Hill in the Hanson-Larsen Memorial Park area. Both burning operations will be conducted as a result of a qualifying snow event and are anticipated to begin on Tuesday December 4. Additional ignitions will remain dependent on snow cover restrictions mandated by the RCFD. Slash pile burn operations shall comply with Rapid City and Pennington County Air Quality Ordinances and the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards. 

The pile burning in Springbrook Acres will be conducted through a fuels reduction project 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 Springbrook Acres common area that has taken place over the past 3 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.”

Like the Springbrook Acres project, slash pile burning on M Hill is part of a hazardous fuels mitigation program that has been in progress over the last three years. The Hanson-Larsen Memorial Park and adjacent area have experienced a number of wildland fires in the last several years. Reduction of hazardous fuels in the area reduces the likelihood of a catastrophic wildland fire event.

Smoke and flames will be visible clearly near the projects, particularly on Sheridan Lake Road from the area of the Springbrook burning operation and on Omaha Street and in Downtown Rapid City from the M Hill burning operation. Smoke may linger for several days after the piles burn down. The RCFD along with Springbrook Acres will continue to monitor both areas 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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