April 13, 2026, update:
Type 3 Interagency Incident Management Team
Fire Location: 3 miles north of Buffalo Gap, SD
Size: 5,408 acres
Cause: Human Caused
Containment: 90%
Current Situation: Containment tonight has reached 90%. State, federal, and local resources spent today mopping up around the fire perimeter and around values at risk. Firefighters today strengthening and securing the fire perimeter. The Incident Management Team will turn the fire back to the local fire department tonight at 7 pm.
Resources will be out periodically tomorrow to patrol and monitor the fire to ensure nothing poses a threat to escape the fire line.
Weather: A Red Flag Warning remains in effect for the area through tonight at 9 pm. MDT. Warm, dry, windy conditions are forecast to continue throughout the evening.
Public Closures: Road closures have been lifted in the area. However, the public is asked to avoid the area due to ongoing active fire suppression activity including personnel and equipment.
Residential Impact: There are no evacuations in place.
The Temporary Flight Restriction is no longer in place.
Fire Information:
Facebook: 79 Fire 2026 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570720881084
April 13, 2026:
Courtesy image.
Type 3 Interagency Incident Management Team
Fire Location: 3 miles north of Buffalo Gap, SD
Size: 5,408 acres
Cause: Human Caused
Containment: 60%
Current Situation: Firefighters have made excellent progress in strengthening and securing the fire perimeter. We expect to see significant gains in containment by end of shift today (April 13, 2026). Overnight resources continued mopping up around the fire perimeter and around values at risk. Crews are patrolling the area and eliminating remaining smoldering fire fuel in and beneath hay bales, feed lots, and beneath burnt grass.
In the Lame Johnny Creek drainage, there are still Cottonwood trees that are putting up smoke within the interior of the burn site. While this fire consumed primarily grass, trees within multiple drainages are among the only heavy fuels in the 79’s seven-mile path.
Today’s objective is to ensure nothing poses a threat to escape the fire line. Firefighters will continue patrolling and mopping up until the job is complete.
Weather: A Red Flag Warning remains in effect for the area through tonight at 9 pm. MDT. Warm, dry, windy conditions are forecast to continue throughout the day and evening.
Public Closures: Road closures have been lifted in the area. However, the public is asked to avoid the area due to ongoing active fire suppression activity including personnel and equipment.
Residential Impact: There are no evacuations in place.
Temporary Flight Restrictions: There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over the perimeter of the 79 Fire. Please do not fly any unauthorized aircraft over the fire. If you fly, we can’t.
Fire Information:
Facebook: 79 Fire 2026 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570720881084
Courtesy image.
April 12, 2026, “79 Fire” evening update:
Courtesy image.
Type 3 Interagency Incident Management Team
Fire Location: 3 miles north of Buffalo Gap, SD
Size: 5,408 acres
Cause: Under Investigation
Containment: 60%
Current Situation: Interagency fire resources worked vigorously today mopping up along the perimeter to successfully keep the fire within its current footprint. Containment is now 60% with the fire’s size more precisely measured at 5,408 acres. From the fire’s initial report Saturday at 11:04 am through early Saturday evening, the wind driven fire, primarily grass, raced just over 7 miles from its starting point just off Hwy 79 up to 144th Ave in E. Custer County. No structures have been lost in this fire.
Due to an extreme lack of moisture in vegetation and in the ground, there is potential for heat to remain beneath the surface. Tonight, resources will continue seeking and extinguishing any hidden hot spots to prevent the fire from escaping or expanding.
While air support played a key role in suppression efforts Saturday they were not needed today as the work was focused on groundwork done by hand and firefighting equipment.
Weather: A Red Flag Warning remains in effect for the area now through Monday at 9 pm. MDT.
Public Closures: Road closures have been lifted in the area. However, the public is asked to avoid the area due to ongoing active fire suppression activity including personnel and equipment.
Residential Impact: There are no evacuations in place.
Temporary Flight Restrictions: There is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over the perimeter of the 79 Fire. Please do not fly any unauthorized aircraft over the fire. If you fly, we can’t.
Fire Information:
Facebook: 79 Fire 2026 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570720881084.
“79 Fire” near Buffalo Gap, South Dakota.
April 12, 2026.
Courtesy photo.
Aprill 12, 2026, “79 Fire” morning update:
April 11, 2026:
Governor Larry Rhoden has declared a state of emergency (April 11, 2026) for portions of southwest South Dakota affected by the 79 Fire.
The 79 Fire was reported around 11 am MDT. It is located just east of Highway 79 along East French Creek Road in eastern Custer County. The fire has burned approximately 5,000 acres.Numerous federal, state, and local firefighting assets, as well as aircraft, are working to suppress the fire.
“Keeping South Dakotans safe is my number one priority, and this emergency declaration will provide the resources firefighters need to get control of this fire,” said Governor Rhoden. “I’m grateful for their dedication and bravery in keeping everyone safe.”
The emergency declaration allows fire suppression costs to be covered by the state fire suppression fund in accordance with SDCL 41-20A-8.
Firefighters are making good progress on controlling the fire and will remain on scene overnight and into the coming days to control hot spots.
Additional information can be found on the Facebook incident page “79 Fire 2026” at https://www.
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