OKATON — While most of the attention on wildfires has been focused in the Black Hills and the Schroder Fire, another fire scorched central Jones County Monday. Jones County Sheriff Rich Silva says authorities were first alerted to the blaze around 12:30 pm…
The fire caused the closure of Interstate 90 for approximately two hours from Murdo to Kadoka…
West Central Electric had 141 member-owners lose power during the fire and strong winds. C-E-O Jeff Birkeland says all customers have returned to service…
Birkeland had praise for the fire crews from 13 central South Dakota departments that put the fire out …
Silva says the cause is under investigation…
Birkeland expects all West Central infrastructure to be restored by Friday. Fire departments responded to the blaze from Murdo, Draper, Vivian, Fort Pierre, Presho, Kennebec, Wood, White River, Midland, Kadoka, Belvidere, Four Corners and Norris. Murdo Police and Ambulance along with Jones County Emergency Management and Sheriff and South Dakota Highway Patrol assisted on scene. The Dry Creek fire according to the Great Plains Fire Information Center is 9,492 acres and 80-percent contained.
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