Potato Creek Fire (SD)
Satellite image: NASA MODIS (infrared — active fire in orange/red, from yesterday).
Heat detections: NASA FIRMS (last 48h).
Quick facts
- Location
- Jackson County
- Cause
- Natural
- Jurisdiction
- BIA · Federal land
Burning across Jackson, South Dakota, the active Potato Creek Fire has torn through 8,958 acres of federal land since its natural ignition on July 27, 2026. Managed by the BIA, the blaze has maintained a rapid trajectory over its two days of burning, averaging roughly 4,479 acres per day.
Operational awareness is being supported by satellite technology, with NASA FIRMS recording seven heat detections in the vicinity over the past 48 hours to track the spread of the front.
In context
This wildfire has been burning in South Dakota for 2 days. So far it has affected roughly 8,958 acres — about 36 km².
In the Northern Hemisphere, wildfire activity usually peaks during the warm, dry months — roughly May through October.
The bigger picture in United States
Across United States, roughly 2,230,849 hectares have burned so far in 2026 — 59% below the two-decade average. Data from Copernicus GWIS.
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Community reports
Reports from people near the fire · unverified
Not official emergency information. In an emergency, contact fire services/authorities.