A former wildland firefighter who owns the land where a burn pile ignited a large wildfire near Rapid City says he believe the blaze was intentionally set.
In a 60-page report, the landowner told investigators he was “100% sure the burn pile fire was completely out.” The landowner says he’s experienced two suspicious fires since buying the property in 2018.
The Schroeder Fire broke out the morning of March 29 and burned about 3.5 square miles (9 square kilometers).
At least one home and two outbuildings were destroyed in the fire. More than 150 personnel responded to the fire that caused more than 400 people to evacuate their homes near Rapid City and closed Mount Rushmore.
Investigator Todd Hedglin says all evidence points to the fire caused by the debris pile that wasn’t completely put out with strong winds fueling the blaze, the Rapid City Journal reported.
The 48-acre property where the fire began has been owned by the SR Living Trust since 2018, according to the Pennington County Equalization Office. The actual owner’s name is not mentioned in the investigative report.
Hedglin wrote that the property owner’s theory about arson was referred to the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office and not something he investigated.
“After speaking with the law enforcement officials, it was determined any third-party involvement with the fire’s ignition could be eliminated as a cause of the fire,” he wrote.
Related:
Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire
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