This is in the area of the state near the South Dakota border where I grew up. The fire was said to be up to 7 miles wide has probably nearing 200 square miles. The latest report last night said it had consumed 100,000 acres, so the figures in the article are quickly outdated. It is being battled by volunteer fire departments. Caused by lightning from a storm that had little rain.
The fire is still out of control.
I feel for you brother! In our county, we had a 2,000-acre fire that we pretty well stopped in 24 hours with about 15 departments, but only after having fought a 10,000-acre fire (that literally started from a spark on a brush hog) and we fought that puppy with 10 departments for 7 days.
Weather is what will dictate when it gets stopped. When the conditions are right, and the wind is blowing, backfiring does very little and the spotting occurs sometimes over a half a mile from the fire. Tough to fight that, and really easy to get caught in the cross fire (literally).
Good luck to your firemen up there! I wish them luck and safety!
