Winds are now pushing from the northwest.  Friday, the winds were blowing from the northeast.Those winds today put the little crossroads called Argyle, south of Pringle, in jeopardy.The wildfire threatening the town of Pringle began to burn toward the south Friday, threatening a whole new set of residents now in the path of the fire.Firefighters said the south front of the Myrtle Fire "exploded" today as northeast winds pushed the fire toward the ranches and rural homes along Highway 89 and the other roads leading from the Highway to the east.The reaction from the residents of Pringle was relief, as the threat passed, at least for the moment.But that relief was replaced by worry about friends and relatives living along Song Dog Road, and Argyle Road, and the other places now in the path of the fire.Pringle resident says, "We have friends that are evacuated. They told everybody in Argyle what now? They told everybody in Argyle to get out now. They told them a couple of hours ago to move their cattle or leave them. They have no choice."As the Myrtle Fire burns its way to the south, ranchers are hustling to get their cattle out of the way.Drovers are using the highway ditches to move cattle because the ditches present fewer obstacles to moving them quickly.Thursday night, the glow from the fires reflecting on the clouds could be seen from as far away as Rapid City.The explosion of fire activity on the south front of the fire overnight and Friday caused a quick change in plans for firefighters who were preparing an all out effort to defend the town of Pringle.Matt Spring, Incident Commander on the fire, says he's called in "all forces from all agencies." He says it doesn't really matter. If they're firefighters, he wants to use them.Air National Guard helicopters have been flying dumping missions alongside Forest Service contract helicopters.Lynn Kolund says,Firefighters and emergency management officials are quick to point out that the firefight so far has been successful considering no home and no lives have been lost so far.

Al Van Zee