BEAR BUTTE, S.D. – A wildfire sparked by lightning near the top of Bear Butte is now 100 percent contained, and officials report no damage to structures.
The fire, known as the Chokecherry Fire, was first reported shortly after 7:30 p.m. Friday, when smoke was spotted near the landmark. Fire crews responded quickly and launched an overnight attack on the blaze.
By Saturday morning, firefighters had established containment lines around the fire, and officials later confirmed the fire was fully contained.
With the threat reduced, the Bear Butte trail has reopened to the public. State and local fire crews will continue securing the fire perimeter and monitoring hotspots over the coming days to ensure the area remains safe.
Authorities are thanking firefighters for their rapid response, which helped prevent the fire from spreading and avoided any reported structural damage.
