Authorities say embers from a homeowner’s pile of burning debris is the likely cause of a wildfire that threatened Rapid City last month.
The state Wildland Fire Division and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office investigated the fire. They say the blaze started at a residence on Schroeder Road. The homeowner had a permit to burn a pile of tree limbs and other vegetation. The homeowner thought the fire was extinguished.
Authorities say they have not filed any criminal charges.
The Schroeder Fire burned more than 2,000 acres on the western edge of Rapid City. The fire destroyed a home, two outbuildings and a porch. About 500 people were temporarily evacuated.