Rapid City, South Dakota – A wildland fire burning west of Hill City in the Cowboy Gulch area is generating a significant amount of visible smoke in the community, according to local officials.
The Hill City Volunteer Fire Department is actively on the scene managing the blaze. According to Pennington County Fire Services the fire estimated at three to five acres.
Due to the heavy smoke, local authorities are asking residents and visitors in the area, a popular spot in the Black Hills, to refrain from calling 911 to report the fire. Emergency services are aware of the incident, and non-emergency calls only tie up crucial phone lines needed for true emergencies.
The extent of the fire and any potential damage were not immediately available. Fire conditions remain a concern throughout the Black Hills National Forest and the surrounding Rapid City region of South Dakota.