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Local fire
crews respond to fire
By REBECCA CRUSE
Capital
Journal Staff
Tuesday,
August 01, 2006
A fire northeast of
Pierre burned about 300 acres of grass and trees Monday afternoon. The culprit
was, once again, lightning.
"When that lightning strike hit, we were down to 77 degrees and humidity was 42
percent and it ran 300 acres in an hour and a half," said Pierre Rural fire
chief Russ Hendrix.
That means that area residents need to use caution when it comes to fire hazards
throughout the rest of the fire season, according to Hendrix.
"If it's 100 degrees out and 20 percent humidity, it's going to run twice as
fast, so they really have to be careful. This little bit of rain didn't do
anything," Hendrix said.
The PRFD caught up with the fire near the intersection of 203rd Street and 295th
Avenue. Hendrix said that the lightning hit about one mile from there.
Assistance was requested by the Pierre department and fire crews from Fort
Pierre, Blunt and Harrold responded to help in the efforts.
"Jason Roggow was operations officer and I sent the majority of the crew down to
him and they did a heck of a job," Hendrix said. "They saved Mr. Schumacher's
house and buildings. They really worked hard."
The firefighters also received assistance with extra water supplies from Midwest
Cooperatives, the Hughes County Highway Department and Weatherall Roofing,
according to Hendrix.
"It did not get any of the buildings or the house, but it got very close. We
were able to get the resources to Jason and he was able to get the resources
placed where we could get a good hit on it, get a good stand, and get it put
out," Hendrix added.
Crews were working in the fire zone for about three hours on Monday, Hendrix
said that several trees had to be cut down.
Story by: REBECCA CRUSE
Capital Journal, Pierre, SD
www.capitaljournal.com
For more information about the
Pierre Fire
Department, e-mail the PFD
webmaster.
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