Switch Back Draw Fire Update
Rapid City, SD – Firefighters reached 70 percent containment on the Switch Back Draw Fire, located in Custer State Park. Incident Commander trainee, Chris Zoller said, “Our burnout operation along the indirect dozer line was a success.” Zoller added, “The work is not done just yet, crews are currently doing mop-up.” Mop-up consists of firefighters going along the perimeter of the fire and extinguishing any hot spots or stumps that might still be smoking, ensuring that the fire perimeter is secure.
The current acreage of the Switch Back Draw Fire is 57 acres. Resources will continue working the fire over the next several days.
Agencies assisting in fighting 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: 57 acres
Cause: lightning
Resources: 150 fire personnel, which includes;
10 engines
2 dozers
1 helicopters
2 water tender
4 handcrews
Notices relating to the Switch Back Draw Fire:
The Badger Clark Memorial is open.
Legion Lake Resort, including the surrounding trail and beach area are open.
The French Creek Natural Area is closed.
The Centennial Trail from Highway 16A to the French Creek Horse Camp is closed.
The Fisherman Flats access to the French Creek Natural Area is closed.
