GOVERNOR LARRY RHODEN HAS DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST SOUTH DAKOTA AFFECTED BY THE 79 FIRE, THE LATEST WILDFIRE IN THE STATE.
THE FIRE WAS FIRST REPORTED AROUND NOON SATURDAY JUST EAST OF HIGHWAY 79 ALONG EAST FRENCH CREEK ROAD IN EASTERN CUSTER COUNTY.
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR MIKE REED SAYS NO STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN LOST IN THIS FIRE AS OF SUNDAY AFTERNOON, BUT THERE WAS OTHER DAMAGE:
79FIRE1 OC……MOPPING UP THOSE. :20
REED SAYS AN AREA WITH A LOT OF COTTONWOOD TREES WAS A FOCUS ON SUNDAY:
79FIRE2 OC,……..SPECIFICALY. :12
THE FIRE HAD BURNED AROUND 6,000 ACRES AS OF SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND WAS 40% CONTAINED.
NUMEROUS FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL FIREFIGHTING ASSETS, AS WELL AS AIRCRAFT, ARE WORKING TO SUPPRESS THE FIRE AND THERE IS A TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTION OVER THE PERIMETER OF THE 79 FIRE.
