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2025-Route 13 Fire-SDCRA

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Unit Information

South Dakota 
South Dakota 

Incident Contacts

Diane Mann-Klager, Public Information
Email: diane.mann-klager@bia.gov
Phone: 605-252-6763
Hours: 0800-1700
Wendy Wells, Cheyenne River Agency Superintendent
Email: wendy.wells@bia.gov
Phone: 605-964-4444
Hours: 0800-1630

Highlighted Media

If you are flying drones, we cannot fly our helicopters and planes to fight the fire.

On March 10, 2025, at approximately 1015 hours, two fires were reported along BIA Route 13 on Cheyenne River Indian Reservation.  These fires merged becoming the Route 13 Fire.  A third fire, Northside Fire, was reported at 1049 hours.  Overnight the fires merged into one Fire, Route 13 Fire.  The fire behavior, conditions, and winds prompted the evacuation of Takini School and Community on March 10, 2025.  

Update

Incident Command is reporting containment at 95%.  Additional mapping has further reduced the acreage.  The firefighters will continue to mop up and address hot spots using aviation as conditions allow.  There are some persistent areas which are difficult to access.  These are being monitored more closely, especially with the frequent wind shifts rekindling heavier fuels (trees, logs, and shrubs).  There was some snow in the area overnight but most had melted by mid-morning.

A Type 3 Helicopter and the South Dakota National Guard (SDNG) Type 1 Blackhawk Helicopters are available to address hot spots and map the fire perimeter.  The SDNG Type 1 helicopters dropped 20 buckets of water on the fire on Thursday, March 13, 2025.  At 660 gallons a bucket, this was approximately 26,000 gallons of water used to address the slop over.  The Type 3 helicopter is more agile and carries a 140-gallon bucket.

Please keep drones grounded- IF YOU ARE FLYING THEY CANNOT!   

The Incident command is still reviewing the potential to do some block burns around the Takini Community to create a good Wildland Urban Interface Hazardous Fuels Reduction should conditions and resources allow.  The main criteria are community acceptance and winds out of the west. 

The Incident Command would like to thank the Takini and surrounding Communities for their continued support.

A Burned Area Emergency Response assessment is being done, working with other Agencies and personnel to determine future needs. 

Enning Volunteer Fire Department provided initial response joined by BIA Wildland Fire resources along with Dupree, Faith, Isabel, Timber Lake, and Eagle Butte Volunteer Fire Departments.  Additional resources are ordered by High Plains Zone Fire Management Officer at the request of the Incident Commander.  

There were numerous other Volunteer Fire Departments who assisted Cheyenne River on Monday and Tuesday.  The fire had at least 135 personnel at one point. Thank you to all.

Basic Information
Current as of Tue, 03/18/2025 - 17:25
Incident Time Zone America/Denver
Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Under Investigation
Date of Origin
Location 28 miles south of Faith, SD, 8 miles east on BIA Route 11
Incident Commander Type 3 Incident Command
Cheyenne River Agency
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Incident Description Grassland wildland fire in a rough river break area along Cherry Creek on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation.
Coordinates 44° 39' 15'' Latitude
-101° 59'
02
'' Longitude
Current Situation
Total Personnel: 55
Size 33,928 Acres
Percent of Perimeter Contained 95%
Fuels Involved

There are heavy logs, trees, and shrubs burning in the draws.  Some have been rekindling with wind shifts.

Significant Events

Three fires in this area. All merged into one large fire.  The fire is 17 miles in length.  Block burns done overnight on March 11th successfully stopped forward progress of the fire. Terrain features prevented total burn out.

No structures were involved.

Patrolling and securing the perimeter continues.

 

Outlook
Planned Actions

Patrol the 17-mile-long fire addressing hot spots and securing the fire perimeter by about two chains (132 feet).  The Incident Command will utilize air resources as wind allows. 

Projected Incident Activity

Patrol and monitor hot spots utilizing ground resources to secure fire edge and cool down large hot spots.  Aviation will be used as conditions allow.

Current Weather
Weather Concerns

No snow fell on the fire last night.  There is another chance for precipitation tonight. Light snow accumulations up to an inch are expected over the spot location. Chances for wetting precipitation are relatively high on Tuesday. Winds will be out of the northeast most of Tuesday, transitioning to out of the north in the evening, and northwest Wednesday morning.