Creekside fire
On Friday, April 5 at 4 p.m., Batesland Volunteer Fire Department was requested by Oglala Sioux Tribe Emergency Management to respond to Manderson to assist with the rapidly spreading Creekside Fire. Batesland sent two Type 6 brush trucks and a water tender. The dry grass and pines and high winds made containment very difficult, so Batesland firefighters helped with starting a backburn along the control line. Later in the night, the advancing fire threatened homes along Pine Lane, which were evacuated, but fortunately there was no damage to any structures or reported injuries. Batesland worked alongside several agencies, including Martin, Kyle, Piedmont, Fairburn, and Parmelee Volunteer Fire Departments, Pine Ridge BIA, Alpha One Fire, OST Emergency Management, OST Department Public Safety, and SD Wildland Fire. BVFD was eventually released from the scene and returned to station at 1 a.m., then sent an additional Type 6 and tender on Saturday for several hours to further help with mop-up and containment until rain provided some relief. Fire is currently estimated to have consumed around 750 acres. Submitted by Michael McMahon, Batesland VFD Secretary.