Forest Service Hosts Two Virtual Job Fairs by Phone

December 5, 2017

LAKEWOOD, CO – The Rocky Mountain Region of the U.S. Forest Service will host two virtual job fairs by phone for job seekers interested in working for the U.S. Forest Service next summer. Over 900 temporary positions are available for the 2018 field season throughout national forests and grasslands in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming.

During the one hour, toll-free call, recruiters will introduce job seekers to the U.S. Forest Service; provide information regarding available jobs; provide an overview of the application process; and answer questions.

Two Opportunities to Join In

• Thursday, December 7, 2017 | 2-3 p.m. MST
• Tuesday, December 12, 2017| 2-3 p.m. MST

Call-in Information & Instructions

• Dial the call-in number: 1-888-844-9904
• Enter the access code followed by the number sign: 7662084#

Temporary positions are available in a variety of exciting and rewarding occupations such as fire, trails, forestry, engineering, wildlife, recreation, fisheries, archaeology and administrative support. Temporary job opportunities are available online at www.fs.usda.gov/main/r2/jobs.

The Forest Service is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture that manages 193 million acres of land, roughly the size of Texas. The Rocky Mountain Region includes 17 national forests and seven national grasslands located in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. The mission of the Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.

For questions about the virtual hiring call, accessibility or to request an accommodation, please contact Lawrence Lujan at (303) 275-5356 or lmlujan@fs.fed.us.

Photo caption/credit: Virtual job fair graphic. Photo by Canva

 

 

 

 

State Fire Marshal’s Office Hosts Line-of-Duty Death Training March 10-11

 

Image: National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

 

 March 7, 2017

PIERRE, S.D. – What needs to be done following the death of a public safety officer is the focus of a special training being held this weekend in Pierre.

The South Dakota Fire Marshal’s Office is hosting the Line-of-Duty Death Local Assistance State Team (LAST) Training Friday and Saturday at the George S. Mickelson Criminal Justice Center in Pierre. The program is put on by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

The two-day event involves training and a table top exercise on Saturday. Anybody involved in the management of and recovery efforts following a line-of-duty death of a public safety officer is invited to attend.

“Having a colleague die in the line of duty is not something that fire departments, law enforcement agencies or EMS units want to think about,” says State Fire Marshal Paul Merriman. “How an agency handles a line-of-duty death can impact the family, the agency and the community. If not handled correctly, there can be additional pain and heartache.”

The course, done through a collaborative effort with the U.S. Department of Justice, provides the training needed to help establish state and regional (LAST) teams. Merriman says the LAST Teams would be available to help an agency or department handle the death of an officer in the line of duty.

“The primary objective of the LAST team is to provide assistance and comfort to the family and department impacted by such a tragic event,” he says. “There are a lot of details that need to be completed, such as the filing for federal, state and local benefits. The LAST teams can help with those arrangements.”

Course instructor is Ian Bennett, fire chief of the Harrisonburg Fire Department in Harrisonburg, VA.

There is no cost to attend the course.

Participants can register online at: https://reg.abcsignup.com/view/view_month.aspx?as=14&wp=27&aid=SDFA.

For more information, contact Deputy Fire Marshal Mike Erickson at mike.erickson@state.sd.us.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office is part of the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.

2017 South Dakota Wildland Fire Academy Registration Open

2017 Wildland Fire Academy Registration Open

 February 10, 2017

RAPID CITY, S.D. – Registration is open for the 2017 Wildland Fire Academy which will be held in Ft. Pierre, S.D., on March 23-26. The academy is put on by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture’s Wildland Fire Division.

This event provides valuable training experience for volunteer fire departments (VFD), state and federal firefighters. Grant funds are available for VFD’s to offset the costs of participation.

South Dakota Wildland Fire training specialist Tamara Dierks says, “A quality training experience provides firefighters with the tools to perform safely, develop leadership skills and gain higher qualifications. Not only does this foster high quality firefighters, but it allows them to network with people from all over the state creating relationships that benefit everyone from the local VFD to the citizens of South Dakota.”

The registration deadline is March 12. There is a non-refundable registration fee of $30 per student. For a list of classes and details to register, visit:http://reg.abcsignup.com/view/view_month.aspx?as=14&wp=86&aid=SDFA. These are certified National Wildfire Coordinating Group courses, so any student attending must have their Incident Command System (ICS) classes up to date including ICS-100 and ICS-700. Additional courses or qualifications may be required, dependent upon course selection.

South Dakota Wildland Fire can be found on Facebook by searching SD Wildland Fire and on Twitter @SDWildlandFire.

House Trailer Destroyed by Fire on Highway 16 West in Custer Tuesday Evening

By Herb Ryan
December 21, 2016

Custer, SD – A  house trailer was destroyed Tuesday evening December 20, 2016 in the trailer park at 11967 Highway 16 West. The fire was reported around 8:00 pm with fire units responding from Custer and mutual aid from Pringle and Argyle Fire Departments. The owner of the trailer was transported to Custer Regional Hospital. The origin of the fire is unknown at this time.
On Wednesday afternoon around 4:15 pm, a resident in an adjoining trailer reported smoke coming from the destroyed trailer. An engine from Custer Fire Department responded, searched the trailer for smoke and reported they had found the fire source and it was extinguished.

 

Custer Volunteer fire department member Landon Wiley and 2nd Chief Bill Bell prepare to extinguish a smoldering fire in a trailer Wednesday, December 20, 2016 on Highway 16 West in Custer.The trailer was destroyed by fire Tuesday evening December 20, 2016 Photo:Herb Ryan/Custer Free Press

 

A partial view of the trailer that was destroyed by fire Tuesday, December 20, 2016 on Highway 16 West of Custer. Members of Custer Volunteer Fire Department returned Wednesday afternoon, December 21, 2016 to extinguish a smoldering fire in the trailer. Photo:Herb Ryan/Custer Free Press

 

Custer Fire Department 2nd Chief Bill Bell searches for points of ignition Wednesday afternoon December 21, 2016  in a trailer that was destroyed by fire Tuesday, December 20, 2016 on Highway 16 West of Custer. Members of Custer Volunteer Fire Department returned Wednesday, December 21, 2016 afternoon to extinguish a smoldering fire in the trailer. Photo:Herb Ryan/Custer Free Press

 

Custer Fire Department 2nd Chief Bill Bell streams water on a smouldering fire Wednesday afternoon December 21, 2016  in a trailer that was destroyed by fire Tuesday, December 20, 2016 on Highway 16 West of Custer. Photo:Herb Ryan/Custer Free Press

New South Dakota Drought Task Force Website Operational

PIERRE, S.D. – An updated Governor’s Drought Task Force website is now operational and is a resource for those looking for drought information.
The website, drought.sd.gov, went live on Friday of last week.

Gov. Dennis Daugaard activated the Governor’s Drought Task Force earlier this month to monitor drought conditions across the state. Gov. Daugaard says the website will feature drought information.

“The website will include information such as the latest U.S. Drought Monitor, fire conditions, weather reports and agricultural information,” said the Governor. “We know many people are impacted by the dry conditions and we want to provide the best information we can.”

Other features on the website include a map comparing this year’s drought to the 2012 drought and a fire map showing the number of acres burned and the perimeter of the fires on state jurisdictional land.

While there has been recent rainfall in some areas, extremely dry conditions exist in other parts of the state. An emergency fire declaration earlier had been declared for 13 central and western South Dakota counties impacted by the drought conditions. Those counties areButte, Custer, Fall River, Haakon, Harding, Hughes, Jackson, Jones, Lawrence, Meade, Pennington, Perkins and Stanley.

The Governor’s Drought Task Force consists of 12 state government agencies. Task Force members will coordinate the exchange of drought information among government agencies as well as agriculture, fire and water-supply organizations.

Next meeting for the Task Force is Aug. 15 in Pierre.

Cement Ridge Fire Lookout Tower Celebrates 75 Years

Cement Ridge Fire Tower Photo: FS.USDA.Gov.

Sundance, WY – Since 2009, Barb Peterson has been staffing the Cement Ridge fire lookout tower on the SD/WY border in the Northern Hills.

“My favorite part about being a lookout is being outside, the solitude, the peace, the quiet and just watching the progression of the whole topography and environment around me. It’s also the teamwork and working with other members of the fire crew and fire lookouts,” said Peterson.

This year, the currently existing Cement Ridge fire lookout tower turns 75 years old.

The original Cement Ridge fire lookout was built between 1911 and 1913.  At that time it was a one-room log cabin with a shingle roof.  In 1921, a crow’s nest with a glassed-in house was constructed.  A new lookout was built by the Civilian Conservations Corps and finished in 1941. This is the tower that you see today. 

Peterson’s daily routine begins with putting together a weather report that is transmitted to the Interagency Great Plains Dispatch Center (GPC). 

“Every fire lookout is a little different. I’m always pacing my catwalk. I’m always outside, if the weather permits, otherwise I’m inside pacing around and I’m always looking with just the bare eye. And about once every half hour, I’ll take the binoculars out and start looking long-range.”

When a smoke is spotted, Peterson works the tower’s Osbourne fire finder (a big compass that sits on a pedestal with a map in the middle) and lines up the sights to narrow down where the smoke is. The smoke then gets called in to GPC and the closest fire resource is dispatched or sent to find the smoke.

Peterson continues radio communication with the ground crew to help guide them to the vicinity of the smoke. “The closer you can get the ground crew into that fire, the quicker they are going to be able to go into suppression,” said Peterson.

Peterson said every year varies for how long the lookout remains staffed. In drier years, it is staffed early spring into late fall.

“I absolutely love it. It’s the best job in the word. I have the best office, a 360 degree view and I get paid to go there.”

The lookout is considered eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and was listed on the National Historic Lookout Register on December 30, 1993. 

For more information on the Black Hills National Forest, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills.

White Horse Fire Pennington County, SD

Around 11:00 am Monday morning, July 18, 2016, Federal, State and Local resources responded to a report of a smoke column 4 miles east of Crazy Horse Memorial located between Custer and Hill City South Dakota.The cause of the 1/2 acre fire is unknown.

The current drought conditions require the response that was shown today. AirTack and ground crews working together quickly to minimize the spread of fire. A Cat dozer was brought in around 11:45 am to establish fire lines.

 

White Horse Fire on White Horse Road in Pennington, County SD Monday July 18, 2016. Photo: Herb Ryan/Custer Free Press.

 

Staging area at the White Horse Fire on White Horse Road in Pennington, County SD, Monday July 18, 2016. Photo: Herb Ryan/Custer Free Press.

 

Bell water drop at the White Horse Fire on White Horse Road in Pennington, County SD, Monday July 18, 2016. Photo: Herb Ryan/Custer Free Press.

 

A “Sky Crane” makes a muddy water drop at the White Horse Fire on White Horse Road in Pennington, County SD, Monday July 18, 2016. Photo: Herb Ryan/Custer Free Press.

South Dakota Gov. Daugaard Issues Emergency Fire Declaration July 13, 2016

PIERRE, S.D. July 13, 2016 – Gov. Dennis Daugaard has issued an emergency fire declaration for 13 central and western South Dakota counties that have been impacted by drought conditions.

The counties are: Butte, Custer, Fall River, Haakon, Harding, Hughes, Jackson, Jones, Lawrence, Meade, Pennington, Perkins and Stanley.

Gov. Daugaard said the declaration allows state government services to be used as necessary to help the counties that are part of the declaration. The declaration was recommended by the state Drought Task Force which was activated by the Governor this week.

“Widespread drought, low humidity and high temperatures have led to a serious fire hazard in those 13 counties,” said Gov. Daugaard. “Persistent prairie fires could diminish the feed and water supplies needed for livestock; or create hardships for individuals, businesses and governments by destroying public, private and agricultural property.”

The declaration allows one single engine air tanker (SEAT) plane to be stationed in Pierre and be managed by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture’s Division of Wildland Fire. The plane will respond as needed to fires in the declared counties. If used, the state would cover 90 percent of the cost while the counties would pay the other 10 percent. Additionally, the SEAT will be available to use on prairie fires affecting federal and tribal lands through existing agreements.  

“It has been a dry year in parts of South Dakota. Sixty percent of the land in our state is abnormally dry and counties primarily west of the river are experiencing moderate to extreme drought,” Gov. Daugaard said. “By declaring an emergency the state will be prepared to assist counties when and if fires break out.”

The Black Hills Forest Fire Protection District is not included in the declaration. The declaration period begins Friday, July 16, 2016 and will last no longer than Dec. 31, 2016.

Red Canyon Fire – Custer County South Dakota – Update

Updated at 8:10pm MST

Red Canyon Fire

• Size: Estimated at 15 – 12 acres
• Location: Custer County, approximately 6 miles west of Argyle
• Resources: SDS Engines, BHNF Engines, four crews, helicopter, two heavy air tankers, and a SEAT
• Cause: Lightning

Posted: 09 Jul 2016 01:04 PM PDT (source) Great Plains Fire Information

Red Canyon Fire

• Size: Estimated at 3-5 acres
• Location: Custer County, 6 miles west of Argyle
• Resources: SDS Engines, BHNF Engines, two crews, helicopter and tanker
• Cause: Unknown, Fire Investigator ordered
  ———————————————————————————————————————–

By Herb Ryan

Arrived at the fire incident off Pleasant Valley Rd in Custer County around 1:45 PM. The fire was spread out on the back side of a heavily forested ridge on private property at the intersection of Farmer and 20 mile Road. Early on structures were threatened. The owners of the property Jack and Ann Parsells were concerned about two barns and outbuildings on their property and a neighbor’s house that was under construction next to their property. As of 3:30 PM, no buildings had been damaged. The unofficial estimate at that time was 10-15 acres. Multiple units from  SD Wildland Fire, Custer Volunteer Fire Dept, Pringle VFD, Edgemont VFD, Hot Springs VFD and the Custer County Sheriff’s Office.

All shots were taken on the backside of a ridge, updates at 10:00 PM tonight.

Red Canyon Fire , in Custer County,SD July 9, 2016. Photo: Herb Ryan/Custer Free Press

 

Custer VFD Engine 2 arriving at the Red Canyon Fire in Custer County,SD July 9, 2016. Photo: Herb Ryan/Custer Free Press

 

Fire Units discuss logistics  at the Red Canyon Fire in Custer County, SD July 9, 2016. Photo: Herb Ryan/Custer Free Press

A Cat arrives to cut fire lines  at the Red Canyon Fire in Custer County, SD July 9, 2016. Photo: Herb Ryan/Custer Free Press

 

Flying through the heavy smoke at the Red Canyon Fire in Custer County, SD July 9, 2016. Photo: Herb Ryan/Custer Free Press

 

Notice the face at the bottom of the column. Photo:Herb Ryan/Custer Free Press

 

Dropping fire retardant at the Red Canyon Fire in Custer County, SD July 9, 2016. Photo: Herb Ryan/Custer Free Press

 

Ready to drop fire retardant on the back side of a ridge at the Red Canyon Fire in Custer County, SD July 9, 2016. Photo: Herb Ryan/Custer Free Press

South Dakota’s Wildland Fire Crew – A Column by Governor Dennis Daugaard

July 8, 2016
South Dakota’s Wildland Fire Crew
A Column by: Governor Dennis Daugaard

It has been a dry year in parts of South Dakota. Sixty percent of the land in South Dakota is abnormally dry and counties west of the river and in the northeast are experiencing moderate to extreme drought. Drought is most severe in the Lawrence County area where the fire at Crow Peak burned more than 2,700 acres over the course of two weeks.

As I write this, the Crow Peak fire has just reached 100 percent containment. Under the lead of an Incident Management Team from Colorado, no structures were lost and no one was seriously injured or killed. The team had help from local, volunteer and municipal fire departments from across the state that put in many hours and sacrificed their Fourth of July weekend to assist the Incident Management team.

Our state fire crew, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture’s Division of Wildland Fire, also played a critical role in managing the Crow Peak fire. They offered air support, equipment and hand crews to assist the Black Hills National Forest and the Incident Management Team with containment.

Created by Gov. Bill Janklow in 2001 to assume the duties of wildland fire management in South Dakota, our Wildland Fire Division assists in large fire suppression efforts by sending personnel and equipment. Wildland Fire has its own fleet of fire engines with full-time and seasonal firefighters who are stationed at four locations around the Black Hills. Division employees also work with the South Dakota National Guard which lends military heavy left helicopters, pilots and crews to fight wildfires. Wildland Fire’s efforts aren’t limited to South Dakota. They help fight fires in Canada and across the United States

When they are not on the ground fighting fires, Wildland Fire employees are engaging in fire prevention efforts. Agency hand crews are involved in fuel reduction activities that include tree thinning and brush disposal through chipping and burning at various locations in the Black Hills. They also have a fire prevention program called “One Less Spark.”

South Dakota is fortunate to have a well-operating fire crew. Wildland Fire division director Jay Esperance and his employees work very hard to limit the damage from wildfires. We are also lucky to have so many volunteer firefighters in our state who are willing to dedicate their time to help with fire suppression efforts. They routinely put their lives on the line to keep us safe.

For our part, we must not add to their workload. Respect county burn bans when they’re in place. Where fires are permitted, never leave a fire unattended, completely extinguish fires before leaving the area and remind others to be cautious. Also, be mindful when operating equipment in dry areas.

South Dakota weather is anything but predictable. We can’t prevent lightning strikes or control how much moisture we receive. But we should do all that is within our power to prevent fires, especially this year.