MULTIPLE WILDFIRES IN THE SOUTH DAKOTA BLACK HILLS ARE FORCING EVACUATIONS.
THE PUBLIC IS BEING ASKED TO AVOID THE HAZELRODT AND DEER MEADOW AREAS WHILE CREWS BATTLE FIRES THERE.
THE CUSTER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CLOSED MULTIPLE ROADS AND CUSTER STATE PARK INCLUDING NEAR THE CRAZY HORSE MONUMENT.
THE FIRE, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 1-2 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CUSTER, BEGAN AS TWO SEPARATE FIRES ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND ARE NOW KNOWN JOINTLY AS THE QURY FIRE.
OFFICIALS HAVE OPENED THE CUSTER ARMORY FOR EVACUEES IN NEED OF SHELTER.
THE FIRE IS ESTIMATED AT 5,000 ACRES WITH NO CONTAINMENT CURRENTLY DECLARED.
GOVERNOR JIM PILLEN HAS ISSUED AN EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION TO USE STATE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THE RESPONSE TO MULTIPLE WILDFIRES IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN NEBRASKA THAT HAVE BURNED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF LAND ACROSS MULTIPLE COUNTIES.
PILLEN HAS AUTHORIZED THE DEPLOYMENT OF 26 NEBRASKA NATIONAL GUARD SOLDIERS AND AIRMEN TO ASSIST LOCAL FIRE CREWS AND DEPLOYMENT OF A FIXED-WING FIRE SUPPRESSION AIRCRAFT AND AN ARMY NATIONAL GUARD HELICOPTER AND CREW TO SUPPORT LOCAL FIRE FIGHTERS WITH QUICK AND TARGETED AERIAL WATER DROPS IN AREAS WHERE GROUND RESPOND CAPABILITIES ARE LIMITED.
SEVERAL NEBRASKA D-O-T ROAD GRADERS WILL HELP CREATE FIRE BREAKS.
THE MORRILL COUNTY AND LINCOLN COUNTY FIRES HAVE EXCEEDED 300,000 AND 50,000 ACRES, RESPECTIVELY,
AND RESULTED IN EVACUATIONS IN NEARBY COMMUNITIES.
ROADWAYS HAVE ALSO BEEN CLOSED DUE TO LOW VISIBILITY.
THE NEBRASKA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY HAS RECEIVED 24 REPORTS OF WILDFIRES IN THE PAST 24 HOURS.
Photos from Custer County Emergency Management
