Chadron, Neb., June 27, 2024 –
Today, the US Forest Service, Pine Ridge Ranger District reports that the Eagle Eye Fire is now 60% percent contained. Crews worked hard yesterday to improve firelines and “mop-up” inside the perimeter. After more accurate mapping, the incident is now 345 acres in size. All local volunteer resources have been released from the fire to rest and retool while engines from National Park Service, Nebraska National Forest, Black Hills National Forest, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and a crew from the State of South Dakota will continue to improve lines and mop up. Also, all aerial assets have been released for assignment to higher priority fires in the region.
District Ranger, Tim Buskirk said, “I again want to thank all of our cooperators and community for their work on the fire and their support of our firefighters. In the end, the way the folks on the ground handled things, this fire probably did more good than bad this time around.” Buskirk added, “the fire burned in rough terrain and heavy fuels, but it did a good job of cleaning up the dead and downed timber, reducing the fire hazard in the future and greatly improving the availability and quality of forage for livestock and wildlife in the future.”
Lightning caused the ignition of a wildfire in Oglala National Grasslands that was discovered early Tuesday morning, June 25. US Forest Service Fire Fighters responded along with agency support offered by Chadron, Crawford, and Harrison NE Volunteer fire departments. The fire is being managed under a unified command between the US Forest Service, Crawford Volunteer Fire Department and the Harrison Volunteer Fire Department.
For ongoing updates, please see Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/NebraskaForestsGrasslands