Wildfires Rage Across South Dakota Monday

PIERRE — Crews across western and central South Dakota responded to numerous wildfires as winds gusted to 65 miles an hour in some locations and temperatures broke records for highs in Pierre. Pierre hit 81 just after 5:30 early Monday evening, breaking the record of 80 set in 1943. A fire across central Jones and Jackson County caused the closure of Interstate 90 and State Highway 248 for two hours. The fire jumped Interstate 90 as winds drove the flames and smoke south. West Central Electric reported up to 141 customers without power in Jones County. In a Facebook post West Central says for safety of fireman and the public the “opened up their lines” in the area. West Central also had power out to a single customer in Haakon County, two in Jackson five in Lyman and up to eight in Mellette County. Fires in the Black Hills caused evacuations near Rapid City and closed numerous state highways and closed the Mount Rushmore National Monument.