No Injuries Reported After Early Morning Fire

Fire spotted by RCPD Officer

Rapid City, S.D. – Four individuals are displaced after an early morning fire in an occupied residence. At 5:05 am this morning, a Rapid City Police Department officer on a call for service in the 100 block of East Denver Street was alerted to a structure fire nearby. The officer noted smoke and flames coming from the basement apartment of the structure located at 127 East Denver and initiated a response from the Rapid City Fire Department.

Crews from Rapid City Fire Department Stations 1, 4 and 7 responded to the fire. On arrival, crews found heavy fire in the basement apartment and heavy smoke conditions throughout the entire structure. All occupants of the structure had exited before RCFD units arrived. Crews stopped the forward progress of the fire in about 30 minutes. Firefighters remained on scene until 7:00 am to complete extinguishment and overhaul operations.

Above: Rapid City Firefighters make entry into a structure fire this morning at 127 East Denver Street.

There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters reported. The American Red Cross serving Central and Western South Dakota was called to the scene to assist occupants with immediate needs.

The Rapid City Police Department remained on scene to assist with traffic control in the area as East Denver Street between Milwaukee Street and North Maple Avenue was closed for a time due to the fire. Additional ice accumulated on already slick road and sidewalk surfaces as a result of firefighting operations. The Street Department with the City of Rapid City was called to treat surfaces in the area.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Additional releases regarding this incident are not anticipated at this time. 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 Units Responding: Squad 1, Truck 1, Engine 7, Engine 4, Medic 1, Battalion 1, Fire and Life Safety Division, Public Information Officer

Other Agencies Responding: Rapid City Police Department, Pennington County Fire Administrator, Montana Dakota Utilities, Black Hills Energy, City of Rapid City Water Department, City of Rapid City Street Department, American Red Cross Serving Central and Western South Dakota.