Prescribed fire at Wind Cave

Yesterday I spent several hours taking photos at a prescribed fire at Wind Cave National Park in the Black Hills of South Dakota. The park has a long history of prescribed fire, with the first one occurring in 1972. This two-day, 652-acre project was called Headquarters West, and was between the campground and the park headquarters.

Photo taken from near the south entrance, about 4 hours after first ignition.
The test burn was at the top of a STEEP hill with lots of loose rock. I only fell once while going back down.

It got a little smoky at times. We used to occasionally carry carbon monoxide (CO) diffusion tubes to monitor the CO levels. Drager, the company that made those now sells a pocket-sized electronic CO monitor that can easily be used by wildland firefighters.

HERE is information about the single-gas, pocket-size monitor made by Drager.

Cooling off a hot area near the line.

Thanks to Jim McMahill, Fire Management Officer, and his staff for their hospitality.

Some of the video that I shot is scheduled to be on the 5:30 evening news Friday on the Rapid City KOTA television station.

HERE is a link to the video.

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Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.