Prescribed Burn Completed in Black Hills National Forest to Mitigate Wildfire Risk
A 702-acre prescribed burn has been completed in the Black Hills National Forest, west of Custer, to address dead timber left by the historic Jasper Fire and reduce future wildfire risks.
Rapid City, SD, October 30, 2026 — A 702-acre prescribed burn has been completed in the Black Hills National Forest, west of Custer. The controlled fire was implemented to address significant amounts of dead timber resulting from the historic Jasper Fire. Officials stated that the burn is intended to reduce the risk of future, uncontrolled wildfires.
The completed burn covered an area of 702 acres within the Black Hills National Forest. The location was situated west of Custer. This operation was designed as a proactive measure to manage the landscape following the Jasper Fire, a historic wildfire that caused substantial timber mortality.
The primary objectives of the prescribed burn were twofold: to clear out the dead timber left by the Jasper Fire and to lower the potential for future wildfire ignition and spread. Prescribed burns are a land management tool used by forestry agencies to mimic natural fire cycles, which can help to clear out underbrush and dead vegetation that fuel large, destructive fires.
Specific details regarding the exact dates the prescribed burn took place were not provided. Information on the extent or intensity of the Jasper Fire, beyond it being historic and having left dead timber, was also not detailed in the summary. The contractor or specific agency responsible for conducting the burn was not named.
The completion of this 702-acre prescribed burn marks a step in the ongoing efforts to enhance forest health and reduce wildfire hazards in the region. Further details on the long-term impact or follow-up activities were not available.
Story summarized from the original created by KOTA Staff on www.kotatv.com, see more information here.
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