On Monday March 29, 2021 a brush fire raged behind the historic barn on 256 St. & 482nd Ave (US Highway 11). The call came in around 1 p.m. The fire affected 80 acres; 175 round bales caught fire and were still smoldering well into the evening.
The blaze was attended to by the Brandon, Garretson, and Valley Springs Fire Departments, along with several area farmers. Those farm- ers brought tractors and discs to till up the land and create a firebreak.
No official word had been released as of press time on the cause of the fire, but drought conditions and high winds were perfect for it to spread. (See more photos on Page 2.)
Monday was also a dark day for the Rapid City area, as multiple fires blazed just south west on Monday and Tuesday. As of press time over 2100 acres had blazed, prompting evacuations, road closures and the closure of Mount Rushmore. The fire was still raging as of press time, and authorities were calling for assistance. Also, that same Monday, March 29 a large brush fire between Kadoka and Murdo closed Interstate 90. In all, it was a bad day for South Dakotans across the state. Thankfully, no deaths have been reported as of press time.
