SCOUTING YESTERDAY | Historic fires spark South Dakota's suppression tactics

This week in South Dakota history: July 12-18

1949 Tilford Fire. Photo: Rapid City Journal.

An overnight lightning storm on July 16, 1949, sparked 18 fires in the Black Hills, according to the Rapid City Journal. Burning in both the Black Hills and Harney National Forests, airplanes were used to spot the fires, directing fire crews in their location. The quick response limited the destruction, the largest fire only destroying two and a half acres.

Forest fires in the Black Hills continued throughout the summer of 1949, a year described as the worst fire danger in a decade, according to a report that summer in the Argus Leader. By Aug. 8, crews were fighting their 99th fire, that one credited with burning 100 acres southwest of Hill City.