Firefighters across Meade County spent much of the weekend responding to multiple grass fires fueled by hot, dry conditions and lightning from passing thunderstorms.
The Meade County Sheriff’s Office says reports of fires came in from several areas, including Red Owl, Fairpoint, White Owl, Faith, and Takini on Saturday afternoon as storms moved east from the Black Hills onto the plains.
At one point, the county’s 911 Communications Center was managing 14 separate fire incidents at the same time.
In a social media post, the sheriff’s office praised volunteer firefighters from across the region, noting that while many residents watched the storms from home, firefighters were responding to smoke reports and working together to protect homes, property, and local communities.
Fire activity was also reported elsewhere across western South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming. The Spring Fire south of Rapid City burned nearly 23 acres Sunday before firefighters stopped its forward progress. Additional fires included the Mix Fire in Weston County, Wyoming, near the South Dakota border, the Mission Fire in Oglala Lakota County, and another Spring Fire in Butte County northeast of Newell.
Officials continue to urge residents to use caution as dry conditions and elevated fire danger persist across the region.
