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Perkins County ranchers picking up the pieces after Divide Fire
Several ranchers in Perkins County are recovering after an explosive grass fire left them stunned after almost losing everything, Ranchers saying without the courageous action of firefighters – it would have been everything.
April 3, 2021
Without the courageous action of firefighters – it
could have been everything.
Max Matthews is now looking at recovering from a grass fire that has destroyed part of his property and some of his flock of sheep.
“It’s a wonderful life, but it has its’ moments where it can be pretty harsh too.”
The divide fire raced through Perkins county the same day the Schroeder Fire started west of rapid city. The fast moving grass fire was fueled by high winds and critically dry conditions, burning almost 12,000 acres in a 3 day period. Drought has plagued ranchers and farmers in the region since last year, along with an increasingly difficult economic situation.
Schroeder Fire damage near Rapid City. [3:28 PM] Tupper, Seth Schroeder Fire damage near Rapid City. Photo courtesy of South Dakota Wildland Fire Division. (1 liked)
Firefighters say people in western South Dakota should be cautious outdoors this weekend.
Dry conditions, high temperatures and gusty winds could turn any spark into a wildfire. Crews are already spread across several fires.
“We really appreciate you guys’ support out there,” he said Thursday. “Bear with us. We’re working really hard. A lot of your volunteer fire departments are out their supporting us right now, day and night. So they’re kind of the backbone of our operation right now, and it’s really awesome to see that.”
Containment grows on South Dakota wildfires that forced evacuations, Mount Rushmore s closure Staff and wire reports
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Firefighters continued to make progress Wednesday on containing wildfires in the Black Hills of South Dakota that earlier forced the evacuation of more than 400 homes, caused Mount Rushmore to close and prompted a state declaration of emergency.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem signed an executive order Tuesday in response to the severe drought and ongoing fires, declaring a state of emergency through June 1.
The order will allow the state to provide greater assistance to the response efforts of local and volunteer firefighters.
Dry conditions, wind create recipe for fires in North Dakota and South Dakota
Several fires have ignited in North Dakota and South Dakota this week due to extreme dry conditions and significant winds across the upper Midwest. Written By: Michael Spieker | ×
A tractor and plow sit idle as a smoke cloud from a large grass fire blocks out the sun at a farmstead near Mentor, Minn., Monday. The tractor and plow were used to create a firebreak in case the fire spread toward the farm. Photo by Eric Hylden/Grand Forks Herald
Extreme drought conditions in the upper Midwest, combined with strong winds, have created a major fire hazard for North Dakota and South Dakota this week. Several wildfires have been sparked across both states, but perhaps none as threatening as the Schroeder Fire near the city of Rapid City, S.D.
Smoke Rises From Schroeder Fire in South Dakota yahoo.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from yahoo.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.