Firefighters shift to mop-up — Qury fire reaches 70% containment

CUSTER, S.D. — Containment continues to increase on the Qury fire southeast of Custer, with crews shifting into mop-up operations as fire activity declines and management prepares to transition back to local control.

According to a March 22, 10:25 a.m. update, the fire had grown to 9,168 acres and was 70% contained. About 190 personnel remain assigned, down from a peak of roughly 410 firefighters and support staff earlier in the incident. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The wildfire, which started March 12 about two miles southeast of Custer, prompted a large-scale response as strong winds and poor visibility challenged early fire-fighting efforts.

Incident Commander Todd Hoover, a Weston County resident, said the role of command centers is to set priorities and ensure safety throughout the operation.

“The Incident Commander’s primary responsibility is to develop the incident objectives to provide the overall strategic direction for the fire,” Hoover said. “First and foremost, we provide for firefighter and public safety.”

At the height of the incident, crews worked to construct and improve 29 miles of containment line to slow and stop the fire’s spread.

Hoover, who began his fire-fighting career in 1994 and has spent 15 years working toward certification as a Type 3 incident commander, said managing large fires requires experienced personnel and coordination across agencies.

“Over the last 15 years I have learned that getting the right people with the right qualifications in the right position is the first step to being successful on bigger fires,” he said. “Bringing hundreds of people together allows you to see friends who you may have not seen for a few years, or could be as recent as a few days before, depending on fire activity. Being able to successfully stop fires, protect infrastructure and get everyone home safe brings great satisfaction.”

He noted that the fire’s early conditions created significant challenges.

“Fast-moving fires create significant challenges to get the firefighters in, and the public out of the way of the fire,” Hoover said, adding that strong winds at the start of the Qury Fire kept smoke low, limiting visibility.

The fire’s location in a wildland-urban interface required additional resources, including structure engines and heavy equipment, to protect homes. Coordination with local emergency management and partner agencies was critical to evacuate residents and safeguard infrastructure, he said.

As the incident progressed, Hoover said priorities shifted to supporting firefighters in the field.

“As the incident progresses, the focus of the IC shifts to feeding and providing shelter for crews to rest after shift,” he said.

Fire officials said this will be the final daily update. Management of the fire is transitioning from a Type 3 Interagency Incident Management Team to a Type 4 organization under the local unit, with crews continuing mop-up and patrol operations. Sunday marked the final night shift on the fire.

Public closures remain in place, including Lower French Creek Road from Highway 16A to Highway 87, Hazelrodt Road, Glen Erin, Flynn Creek, Herbert Draw and Highway 87 from Highway 16A to the north boundary of Wind Cave National Park. Custer State Park remains open.

Repopulation has occurred across the fire area, but access remains limited to residents with an orange card issued by Custer County Emergency Management.

A Temporary Flight Restriction remains in effect over the fire area.

“If you fly, we can’t,” fire officials said.

Fire information is available on the Qury Fire Facebook page, InciWeb, or by calling 605-673-8155.