CUSTER, S.D. — South Dakota is bringing in more resources to fight a wildfire that burned Thursday near Mount Rushmore ahead of next week’s visit to the monument by President Donald Trump for Independence Day celebrations.
The fire that started in Custer State Park on Wednesday burned an estimated 150 acres (60 hectares) about 6 miles (10 kilometers) south of the 79-year-old stone monument.
The fire covered 60 acres (24 hectares) and was 25% contained on Thursday morning, according to Gov. Kristi Noem’s spokesman Ian Fury. He said 117 firefighters were on the scene and that heavy rain was expected in the evening.
The Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center tweeted Wednesday evening that eight aircraft had been deployed to fight the wildfire and that hotshot crews of highly trained firefighters from Wyoming and Colorado had been mobilized.
