Date:  July 18th, 2012, 11:00 a.m.

Switch Back Draw Fire Update

 Rapid City, SD – Crews have made good progress on the Switch Back Draw Fire, located in Custer State Park.  Matt Spring, Type 3 Incident Commander for the 40 acre fire said, “Cooler temperatures and higher humidity overnight certainly worked in our favor.”

Currently crews have completed an indirect dozer line around the 40 acre fire.  Crews will conduct burnout operations, between the dozer line and the main fire today, as weather and fuels conditions allow.  Once the burnout operation is completed, the percent of containment will be increased.

Agencies working the fire include: Custer State Park, South Dakota Division of Wildland Fire, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Park Service, South Dakota Department of Transportation, Veterans Fire Corp, and numerous local fire departments.

Switch Back Draw Fire

Location: 2 miles east of Mt. Coolidge lookout in Custer State Park

Size: 40 acres

Cause: lightning

Resources: 150 fire personnel, which includes;

11 engines

2 dozers

2 helicopters

1 SEAT (single engine air tanker)

1 water tender

1 handcrew

Closures:

Due to the Switch Back Draw Fire, Custer State Park Superintendent Matt Snyder has made the following closures:

The French Creek Natural Area is closed.

The Centennial Trail from Highway 16A to the French Creek Horse Camp

The Fisherman Flats access to the French Creek Natural Area

The Badger Clark Memorial is closed

Legion Lake, including the surrounding trail and beach area are closed; however, the Legion Lake Resort is open.