Black Hills National Forest

US Forest Service
Black Hills National Forest
1019 N. 5th Street
Custer, SD 57730
605-673-9200

Telephone for the
Hearing Impaired
605-673-9227

News Release

USDA Forest Service

Black Hills National Forest

Contact: Brenda Bowen (605) 393-8055, or email us at r2 blackhills webinfo@fs.fed.us

CAMP 5 FIRE ACTIVITY UPDATE

RAPID CITY, SD: APRIL 19, 2005, 3 p.m.

Fire Size: Estimated at 775 acres

Containment: 90%. Estimate full containment today at 5:00 p.m.

Location: Boulder Canyon south of Highway 14A, approximately 5 miles east of Deadwood.

Date Started: April 17, 2005 at 4:30 p.m.

Cause: Under investigation

Personnel: Approximately 150. Number expected to drop to 55 by evening.

Resources include: Several resources that arrived earlier today have been demobilized. Once containment is reached, more resources will be released. Two Type II Crews, 1 engine, and overhead personnel will remain on the fire.

Current Situation: Cool temperatures and light rain have continued throughout today. Crews made great progress building the remaining ¼ mile of line and making sure any hot spots next to the line were extinguished. With the cooler weather and diminished fire activity, firefighters are being reminded not to become complacent. Slick roads and slopes, poor visibility, and snags are some of the safety concerns.

Once the fire is contained, the resources remaining on scene will continue to work towards control of the fire. Containment is the first step in the process and involves getting a line around the fire to stop its forward motion and growth. Control is achieved when the fire line is reinforced so that flare-ups within the fire perimeter can not escape. Crews will continue to mop up and patrol the fire until all hot spots that could potentially escape are extinguished.