April 5, 2005: South Dakota CAP Assists in Black Hills Fire Spotting and Assessment

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On this date in 2005, the South Dakota Wing of the Civil Air Patrol was assisting state and federal officials in spotting fires and assessing damage in the Black Hills.

An excerpt from the Sioux City Journal:

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) -- Dry conditions and a dry forecast make for conditions that could spark a lot of fires again in the tinder-dry Black Hills, but much of the firefighting effort going into the season is to keep the fires small. . . When a fire is spotted, fire engines and crews are dispatched immediately, as is an air tanker that can snuff out the flames, when the fire risk is high. . .  Much of the credit for keeping fires small goes to the local Civil Air Patrol. . . The volunteer CAP pilots, known best for finding missing or lost people, now take to the air when the weather and forest conditions are right for fires sparked by lightening.

Want to learn more or join the Civil Air Patrol? Browse http://gocivilairpatrol.com

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