Evening Structure Fire Held to Single Alarm

   At 7:48 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 21 the North Haines Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to 14000 block of Mountain View Ln. in unincorporated Meade County, for a reported structure fire in an occupied residence. 

   First-arriving crews found no obvious signs of fire on the exterior of the house. Upon investigation, the fire was located in the wall adjacent to the propane fuel fireplace.  To mitigate further damage to the structure, firefighters carefully dismantled the fireplace hearth and extinguished all hot spots. Damage was limited to the area immediately surrounding the fireplace. 

   The cause of the fire is currently under investigation and full investigation will be completed by the property owner’s insurance company. The fire appears to be accidental. 

   Due to the quick actions of first arriving firefighters, and the careful dismantling of the fireplace, there was minimal damage to the structure and the occupants were able to remain in their home. 

   There were no injuries to the firefighters or occupants and no domestic animals were lost. 

   Agencies responding included Pennington County 911, Meade County 911, North Haines Volunteer Fire Department, Rapid City Fire Department, Black Hawk Volunteer Fire Department, Piedmont Volunteer Fire Department, Rapid Valley Volunteer Fire Department, Box Elder Volunteer Fire Department, Whispering Pines Volunteer Fire Department, Meade County Sheriff’s Office, South Dakota Highway Patrol, Pennington County Fire, and West River Electric Cooperative. 

   (Photos courtesy of Pennington County Fire.)