Rancher Fire (South Dakota)

Burning across 504 acres of federal timber, grass, and understory, the Rancher Fire near Porcupine, South Dakota, has now been fully contained after a 22-day burn that averaged approximately 23 acres of daily growth. Situated two miles east of Evergreen in Oglala Lakota County, the natural-cause blaze was managed by a Type 4 Incident Commander and two personnel operating under the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

With fire behavior currently reported as minimal and suppression operations successfully reaching 100 percent containment, the total cost to bring the incident under control has reached $250,000. The local fire season typically spans from June to October, aligning with the timing of this August start.

This incident unfolds against a broader national backdrop in which 3,172,718 hectares have burned across the country so far in 2026, tracking 42 percent below the two-decade average.