Containment on the largest fire in the Black Hills is now estimated to be at 70 percent.  The Oil Creek Fire, which started one week ago Sunday just outside of Newcastle, has now burned over 62 thousand acres of land in an area more than 18 miles long and eight miles wide. The fire area stretches from Newcastle halfway to Sundance.  But the rains of the past few days have done much to quench most of the fire activity.  The crews that remain are conducting mop-up operations, and many are being re-assigned.  Evacuation orders have been lifted for the town of O-SAGE and for the Newcastle residents evacuated north of the railroad tracks.  A community meeting to discuss what comes next is being held Monday night at Newcastle High School at 7.

Al Van Zee