Fire officials say the False Bottom Creek Fire west of St. Onge is now fully contained.
The fire began Sunday afternoon shortly after a thunderstorm moved through the area, bringing lightning and strong winds. The blaze spread quickly through a cut hayfield, burning timber and hay bales as it moved north toward 196th Street.
Residents assisted firefighters by using tractors and hand tools to help create containment lines around the fire.
On Monday, crews remained on scene extinguishing hot spots and securing the burn area. Command of the incident was transitioned from the St. Onge Fire Department to South Dakota Wildland Fire due to the resources required.
Multiple agencies responded, including fire departments from St. Onge, Belle Fourche, Whitewood, Spearfish, and Deadwood, along with the U.S. Forest Service, Lawrence County emergency management, and law enforcement agencies. Firefighters from Alabama and North Carolina also assisted with the response.
