Fire, Law Enforcement Agencies Investigating Fatal Garage Fire

Rapid City, S.D. – At 1:30 am the Rapid City Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a structure fire at 118 Signal Drive in Rapid City. Rapid City Police Department officers on patrol in the area arrived on scene within three minutes of the call and advised responding RCFD units that the garage was fully involved. As firefighters responded, dispatchers from Pennington County 9-1-1 relayed information that the detached garage was occupied and that it was unknown if any individuals remained inside.

When the first RCFD units arrived on scene four minutes after dispatch, they observed heavy fire conditions throughout the detached, two-stall garage. Firefighters quickly attacked the fire, stopping the forward progress of the fire within five minutes of arrival. Police Officers located an individual with non-life threatening injuries nearby. Rapid City Fire Department Paramedics transported that individual to a local hospital. The condition of the individual in unknown at this time.

As firefighters extinguished the flames, the body of an unidentified individual was located in the garage. The individual was pronounced dead at the scene. As of the time of this release, the gender, age and identity of the deceased individual is not known.

Firefighters remained on scene until just after 3:00 am extinguishing hot spots. No other civilian injuries or injuries to firefighters were reported. The fire threatened two nearby occupied residential structures. Neither of those structures sustained any damage.

The cause of the fire and the investigation into the cause and manner in which one individual perished and another was injured is under investigation by the Rapid City Police Department, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office and the Rapid City Fire Department.

At this time, no other information is available for release. Updates related to this incident will be provided when appropriate.

For questions related to this release, please contact Lt. Jim Bussell, Public Information Officer for the Rapid City Fire Department, at 605-394-4180.

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RCFD Responds to Early Morning Fire

Lemmon Ave fire was 50^th call for service during 24 hour shift

Rapid City, S.D. – At 4:47 this morning, crews from four Rapid City Fire Department stations were dispatched to a report of a structure fire at 714 Lemmon Avenue in Rapid City. Rapid City Police Department officers were on scene moments before RCFD units arrived and reported the structure to be fully involved with subjects still unaccounted for. When fire crews arrived, they had heavy fire conditions coming from nearly all of the doors and windows of the single family dwelling.

It took firefighters about 30 minutes to stop the forward progress of the fire. During that time, police officers and firefighters were able to locate and account for all occupants of the home. One individual was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries. That individual will remain unidentified to protect their privacy. No other injuries to occupants or firefighters were reported. Crews continued mop-up and overhaul operations until about 6:30 this morning.

Four occupants of the residence have been displaced by the fire. The American Red Cross serving Central and Western South Dakota was called to assist the occupants with immediate needs.

The Rapid City Fire Department’s Fire and Life Safety Division and the Rapid City Police Department are investigating the cause and circumstances surrounding the fire.

The Lemmon Avenue fire was the 50^th call for service for the Rapid City Fire Department during what proved to be a busy and, at times, intense 24-hour Thanksgiving shift. Rapid City’s C-Shift Firefighters responded to a total of 51 calls during the shift. During the shift– which started at 7:00 am Thursday morning– firefighters responded to two structure fires. One fire was confined to the stove area and was one of three burned turkeys that the department responded to during the shift. The crew from Station 6 provided mutual aid to the Rockerville Fire Department for a wildland fire in the Teepee Gulch area. In addition to the structure and wildland fires, crews responded to three cardiac arrests, two serious motor vehicle crashes, a gas leak, and a number of various medical calls, fire alarms, crashes and miscellaneous calls for service. The 51 calls resulted in 82 unit responses.

For questions regarding this release, please contact Lt. Jim Bussell, Public Information Officer for the Rapid City Fire Department, at 605-394-4180.

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RCFD Units Responding: Truck 1, Squad 1, Battalion 1, Medic 1, Engine 7, Medic 7, Truck 3, Engine 4

Other Agencies Responding: Rapid City Police Department, Montana Dakota Utilities, Black Hills Energy, City of Rapid City Water Department, American Red Cross serving Central and Western South Dakota

Firefighters, Bystanders Perform Multiple Rescues During Morning Fire

Heroic efforts result in no injuries after Cherry Avenue fire

Rapid City, S.D.- An early morning fire in an apartment building forced bystanders and firefighters to make multiple rescues before being brought under control. At 6:30 am this morning, crews from Rapid City Fire Department Stations 1, 4 and 6 were dispatched to a report of a structure fire with persons trapped at 2021 Cherry Avenue. Pennington County 9-1-1 was fielding multiple calls reporting the fire and calls from individuals inside the structure who reported being trapped.

As crews arrived, employees from Collins Siding– located across the street from the apartment building– were completing the rescue of a female occupant from the balcony of one of the apartments. Crews reported that the employees were carrying the individual down the ladder much like a firefighter would. On arrival, there were heavy smoke and fire conditions throughout the structure.

Above: Conditions encountered by crews on arrival.
(Photo by Firefighter/Paramedic Kevin Sosa)

As the crew from Truck 1 completed a 360 degree assessment of the building, window blinds in a basement window could be seen moving. The crew quickly broke the window and extended a ladder into the basement apartment. The occupant of the apartment was able to lie, face-down, on the ladder and was pulled from the burning building by firefighters. This technique was taught and practiced by Rapid City Firefighters exactly two weeks ago during drills in the 700 block of West Street. This morning, their training proved to be invaluable.

In addition to the two aforementioned rescues, at-least four other individuals were assisted from the building by bystanders and firefighters. As a result, no serious injuries and no fatalities occurred. The American Red Cross serving Central and Western South Dakota was called to the scene and is assisting occupants with immediate needs such as lodging, clothing, and medications. Several occupants of the building were evaluated by RCFD Paramedics. All individuals declined treatment and transport.

It took fire crews 30 minutes to stop the forward progress of the fire. Crews remained on scene extinguishing hot spots until about 9:30 am this morning.

The cause and circumstances surrounding the fire are under investigation by the Rapid City Fire Department Fire and Life Safety Division and the Rapid City Police Department.

No injuries to firefighters or responders were reported.

The Rapid City Fire Department wishes to extend its profound thanks to neighboring businesses for their assistance and thoughtful gestures during this incident. In addition to performing a rescue, Collins Siding employees opened their building to displaced occupants, provided rooms for fire investigators to conduct interviews and provided refreshments and food for firefighters. We would also like to thank the Girl Scouts Dakota Horizons for their generous offering of snacks and refreshments to firefighters and responders.

The incident this morning could have had a very, very tragic ending. Were it not for the heroic actions of civilians and first responders, the outcome would have been much, much different.

Additional releases of information from the Rapid City Fire Department regarding this incident are not anticipated at this time. Please contact Lt. Jim Bussell at (605)-394-4180 for questions or comment related to this release.

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RCFD Units Responding:  Truck 1, Squad 1, Medic 1, Battalion 1, Engine 4, Engine 6, Medic 7

Other Agencies Responding: Pennington County 9-1-1, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Highway Patrol, Pennington County Search and Rescue, Whispering Pines Fire Department, Pennington County Fire Administrator, Black Hills Energy, Montana Dakota Utilities, Midco, City of Rapid City Water Division, American Red Cross serving Central and Western South Dakota