Over 400 homes evacuated, Rushmore closed amid South Dakota fires

NEMO, S.D. (AP) — Authorities say three separate wildfires in the Black Hills of South Dakota have forced evacuations of more than 400 homes northwest of Rapid City and shut down Mount Rushmore.

The Pennington County Sheriff’s Department says a fire that started near Schroeder Road in the Nemo area, about 15 miles northwest of Rapid City, had had burned 1900 acres as of Tuesday morning. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, in Rapid City to oversee the response, said the fire started on private property. Officials believe one home and two outbuildings have been lost to the fire.Authorities say, despite the winds, firefighters made good progress Monday.

Two additional blazes were burning southwest of Rapid City, near Keystone. That caused Mount Rushmore National Memorial to close, as well as surrounding roads.