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Myrtle Fire claims older homestead ranches |
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Monday, 23 July 2012 15:39 |
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The Myrtle Fire burning just one mile east of Pringle has burned about 10,000 acres. It started last Thursday, and just 24 hours later it proved to be destructive, destroying the Williams Ranch one of the oldest homestead ranches still standing in the area.
Black Hills FOX reporter Darren Leeds has more from Pringle. All that remains Monday is a chimney and the foundations from 18 buildings dating back to the 1800s. The Williams Ranch was a symbol and a reminder of the history of the Southern Black Hills. Archaeologist Michael Engelhart says, "It's very rare that you find a location like this with all the buildings still standing or all the buildings that are intact and in place and this is a ranch with just a bunch of history; just a storied past about the family and about the area as well." Engelhart says that there were several crews present at the time the Myrtle Fire threatened the Williams Ranch and he says they were winning the fight until conditions got out of hand. Engelhart says, "As it came into Shirttail Canyon here we did have several engines along with some other resources and some other people that were basically sitting on the site trying to baby sit the site and to take care of the structures. And they were winning the battle for some time and eventually and unfortunately due to fire conditions and the way things played out we were just not able to save it." It wasn't for the lack of trying with hundreds of people working to put out the massive fire. Now days after it started firefighters are starting to make progress. Fire information officer Brian Scott says, "They're mopping up at least 100 feet in from the edge of the fire perimeter and a lot of that entails taking their gloves off and doing what's called 'cold trailing.' Take your glove off, feel the temperature of the soil, if it's warm then they disturb that, mix it up with some water, cool it off." Crews have made enough headway to allow Pringle residents who had been evacuated back into their homes. A section of Highway 385 that was closed has been re-opened. And Wind Cave National Park is scheduled to reopen Tuesday. As for the Williams Ranch, it was nominated for listing on the National Register of Historic Places but it burned while the listing was pending. Darren Leeds Black Hills FOX News. |
