Update 7:35PM 3/21/26: from Custer Sheriff office “We are pleased to inform you that beginning at 7 PM this evening, the roads within the subdivision will be accessible to local residents. However, we kindly request that those who do not live in the area refrain from entering, as the fire is currently about 50% contained. Thank you for your cooperation.”

Update 11:28AM 3/21/2026: from South Dakota Department of Public Safety “Fire activity has slowed after strong strategic efforts yesterday (3/20) and overnight.

Today federal, state and local resources continue working to secure fire lines. They are tracking down and extinguishing hot spots on the fire’s edge. Acres remain at 25 with 0% declared containment.

The goal of last nights air tanker drop of fire retardant was to help prevent any movement to the east.

A burnout operation last evening proactively eliminated available fire fuels in the area between the outer dozer fire line and the interior fire thereby creating a strong fuel break along the fire’s east edge.”

Update 8:43PM: from Qury Fire EOC “Partial Evacuations Lifted for the Sundance Fire. Mountain Lion Rd to Lone Elk remain closed. All other roads are open. THERE WILL PROBABLY NOT BE POWER.”

Update 5:53PM: from South Dakota Department of Public Safety “There is an active wildfire burning 2 miles East of Argyle. The Sundance Fire is estimated at 10-15 acres with tree torching. The fire was reported at 3:30 pm. State, Federal, and local resources are on scene along with air support.”

Update 5:32PM: Check out Qury Fire Emergency Operations Center for further information on the Sundance Fire. Evacuation area now includes Mountain Lion Ln, Sundance, Lowell Dr, Lone Elk, South Park Rd, W Argyle Rd and all connecting roads. Go to Pringle Town Hall if evacuated.

Original Post 3/20/2026: There is currently a wildfire west of Argyle. It is approximately four miles north of Fall River County at this time. We will continue to monitor the situation and update Fall River County residents as needed. Check out Custer County South Dakota Emergency Management for more information on this fire.

Update 8:49AM 3/14/26: Great plains dispatch report from this morning lists Hot Brook Fire as contained at 20 acres.

Update 1:28PM 3/13/2026: From SD Dept of Public Safety: Firefighters are working today on containment and securing fire lines around the perimeter. Current size is estimated at 20 acres and containment is at 25%. The terrain is steep, rugged, and tough to access.

Update 11:00AM 3/13/26: Nothing new to report. Crews are still on scene. No evacuations. Roads are still open to local traffic.

Update 9:27PM: A backburn has been completed behind the house that was most endangered by the fire. At this point no structures are considered to be in immediate danger. Some of the fire crews are being released to rest. The fire will be patrolled all night. Fire crews will continue suppression efforts in daylight. Residents of the canyon are advised to be in ‘Ready‘ status for an evacuation.

Press Release March 12, 2026

Hot Brook Fire at about 7PM on March 12th.

Update 5:48PM: Hot Brook Canyon Road is currently open to local traffic only. There are structures threatened at this time. No evacuations are currently in place. Residents of the canyon should be ready to evacuate if the situation changes.

Original Post: Hot Brook Canyon Road is closed due to fire. Do not attempt to use Hot Brook Canyon Road. You will find yourself in a traffic jam. Also, stop calling dispatch for information on the fire. They need the lines open for emergency calls.

Update 5:29PM: BHE announced that they will begin patrolling lines and restoring power as the severe winds have passed.

Update 2:14PM: It looks like the PSPS is going ahead for the Maverick Junction Area. We’ve also been informed that the power is out at the Edgemont School due to a damaged line.

Original Post:

Below is the media release from Black Hills Energy regarding the potential for a Public Safety Shutoff today, Thursday, March 12 from noon to 5pm.

Media Advisory: March 12, 2026 (7:45 a.m. MT) 

Southern Hills areas south of Hot Springs into Edgemont, including Provo and Ardmore, under Emergency Public Safety Shutoff Warning; temporary power outages are possible beginning at noon today 

RAPID CITY, SD, March 12, 2026, 7:45 a.m. – Hazardous wind gusts and extremely dry conditions are creating very dangerous fire conditions today. To protect public safety, Black Hills Energy has issued an Emergency Public Safety Power Shutoff Warning to approximately 300 customers in the Southern Hills areas south and east of Hot Springs into Edgemont, including Provo and Ardmore. Unless conditions change, Black Hills Energy may proactively de-energize power lines in these areas beginning at noon today. Hazardous fire weather conditions for this Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) are forecasted from noon to 5 p.m. 

The downtown areas of Hot Springs and Edgemont are not likely to be impacted. For information about the areas impacted by today’s PSPS, visit blackhillsenergy.com/outages. 

 
Despite recent snow in the area, the windy conditions forecasted today will dry remaining moisture quickly, potentially leaving vegetation in the area as a prime fuel source for ignition. 

Black Hills Energy will pre-stage crews in impacted areas to expedite the restoration process. Once hazardous fire weather conditions have passed, Black Hills Energy crews will patrol power lines to ensure they are safe to be re-energized. The restoration process is estimated to take a few hours. 

“The safety of our customers, employees and communities is our highest priority,” said Wes Ashton, vice president of South Dakota and Wyoming Utilities. “We are activating the Public Safety Power Shutoff as a last resort emergency measure to prevent our electrical equipment from becoming a source of ignition during these hazardous conditions.” 

Black Hills Energy will continue to keep impacted customers informed throughout this PSPS event through text messages, emails, and phone calls. More information is also available on Black Hills Energy’s website at blackhillsenergy.com/psps. 

Black Hills Energy reminds everyone that customers outside the active Public Safety Power Shutoff area may also experience outages due to high winds, enhanced protection settings on our lines that help prevent wildfire ignitions when a fault is detected, or other factors. Outages may last longer than usual since we’ll need to inspect the lines to make sure they can be re-energized safely. 

Important safety reminders  

• If you see downed powerlines, stay away and call 911.  
• Stay up to date by visiting blackhillsenergy.com/psps.  

Learn more about Black Hills Energy’s Public Safety Power Shutoff program at  

blackhillsenergy.com/psps. 

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Update 12/11/2025: West Oral Road is open.

Original Post: A one mile section of West Oral Road is closed for bridge work. This closure is from the intersection of US Highway 385/18 to the intersection with Angostura Rd. Please use Feeder Way Road and Angostura Road as a detour. This closure will continue from December 8th to the 15th unless work concludes earlier.

The county has been informed of a cybersecurity attack which as affected our emergency alert system, CodeRED. A cybercriminal group has claimed responsibility for this incident.

Contact information for subscribers may have been stolen and may have been published online.

The greatest concern is that subscribers may have used a password on their CodeRED registration that they also use for other accounts. If you subscribed for CodeRED and ‘reused’ a password, please immediately go and change the password on your other accounts.