Map indicating location of the lightning-caused wildfire at Badlands National Park / NPS

Lightning from a thunderstorm on August 21 ignited a wildfire in the Sage Creek area of Badlands National Park. The Sage Creek area is accessed via a dirt and gravel road approximately one-half mile (0.8 km) south of the Pinnacles Entrance. The landscape all around there is mixed-grass prairie prone to ignition due to the dry summer.

Fire crews are actively working to suppress a 1300-acre lightning-caused fire first reported Wednesday evening at around 8:00 p.m. in the park. Firefighters remained on-scene throughout the night to prevent the fire from jumping control lines during high winds that followed the passing thunderstorm.

The fire is located approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) northeast of the park’s Sage Creek Campground. No structures are threatened, and no injuries have been reported. Due to the location of the fire, Sage Creek Campground is closed until further notice.

The fire danger remains very high, and park visitors are reminded to be safe in their outdoor activities.