{{Short description|2012 wildfire in South Dakota, United States}} {{Use American English|date=May 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox wildfire|area={{convert|8,640|acres}}|cause=Sparked by a vehicle and spread by dry vegetation|location=Black Hills, South Dakota| fatalities = 4 (indirectly)|title=White Draw Fire}}
'''White Draw Fire''' was a wildfire in South Dakota, United States, that started on Friday, June 29, 2012.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://wildlandfires.wordpress.com/rma/south-dakota/white-draw/|title=White Draw Fire|date=2012-07-03|website=WildlandFires.info|language=en|access-date=2020-04-08}}</ref> The fire burned a total area of 14 square miles (8640 acres), mainly the U.S. Forest Service land.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.twincities.com/2012/07/06/south-dakotas-wild-draw-fire-fully-contained/|title=South Dakota's Wild Draw fire fully contained|date=2012-07-06|website=Twin Cities|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-08}}</ref> The fire did not harm any civilian population or livestock; however, a military C-130 MAFFS air tanker crashed in the Black Hills during firefighting.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2012/07/01/sd-fire-slows-but-toll-includes-tanker-crash/|title=SD fire slows, but toll includes tanker crash|agency=Associated Press|date=2012-07-02|website=The Denver Post|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-08}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://wildfiretoday.com/2012/07/27/structure-protection-from-the-viewpoint-of-a-homeowner/|title=Firefighting, structure protection, and public relations|date=2012-07-27|website=Wildfire Today|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-08}}</ref>
== Origin == The fire was sparked by a vehicle 80 miles southwest of Rapid City on Friday afternoon.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.firehouse.com/lodds/news/10736614/c130-firefighting-plane-crashes-while-assisting-at-white-draw-fire|title=StackPath|website=www.firehouse.com|date=3 July 2012 |access-date=2020-04-08}}</ref> On the first day, it moved five miles due to wind gusts.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-wildfires-crash-idUSBRE8610ZO20120702|title=Air Force C-130 crashes fighting South Dakota wildfire|date=2012-07-02|work=Reuters|access-date=2020-04-08|language=en}}</ref> It was fueled by dry bush and dry trees.<ref>{{Cite web |author= |date=2 July 2012 |title=C-130 firefighting air tankers grounded after fatal South Dakota crash |url=https://www.cnn.com/2012/07/02/us/south-dakota-air-tanker-crash/index.html |access-date=2020-04-08 |website=CNN}}</ref>
== Description == By Sunday, the fire was 30% contained.<ref name=":6" /> The fire was primarily burning U.S. Forest Service land, and five homes were asked to evacuate.<ref name=":2" /> On July 5, the fire was 80% contained and had burned almost 9000 acres.<ref name=":1" /> The fire was fully contained by July 6 due to the efforts of 400 firefighters, helicopters, aircraft, and rainfall.<ref name=":0" /> The fire did not harm any people or livestock but affected some ranches.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=https://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/wyoming/crews-contain-highlands-fire-along-wyoming-south-dakota-border/article_a3cf2b2d-9339-5559-92b2-6a1b11cd71fb.html|title=Crews contain Highlands fire along Wyoming-South Dakota border|agency=Associated Press|website=The Billings Gazette|date=5 July 2012 |language=en|access-date=2020-04-08}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> On July 1, an airforce C130 firefighter aircraft operated by North Carolina National Guard crashed with a crew of six, after it got stuck in a microburst, a small and intense thunderstorm.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=https://www.wlfalwaysremember.org/incident-lists/506-2012-07-01-maffs-7.html|title=White Draw Fire, Black Hills, SD|last=|first=|date=2020-04-08|website=WLF Always Remember|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref>
=== Plane crash === On Sunday, July 1, a military C-130 MAFFS air tanker crashed in the Black Hills while fighting the White Draw Fire.<ref name=":3" /> The plane crashed at 6:00 p.m. after making two drops of retardant on the fire.<ref name=":2" /> The cause of the crash was a microburst.<ref name=":8" /> Four out of the six-member crew were killed. The four killed in the crash included Lt. Col. Paul Mikeal of Mooresville, Master Sgt. Robert Cannon of Charlotte, Maj. Joe McCormick of Belmont, and Major Ryan Scott David of Boone. Immediately after the crash, a helicopter landed and took two survivors to a Rapid City hospital.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2012/07/04/career-flyers-mourned-crash-investigation-continues/|title=Career flyers mourned; crash investigation continues|date=2012-07-04|website=Boston Herald|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deseret.com/2012/7/3/20422382/black-hills-fires-scorch-6k-acres-in-sd-wyo|title=Black Hills fires scorch 6K acres in SD, Wyo.|agency=Associated Press|date=2012-07-03|website=Deseret News|language=en|access-date=2020-04-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://k2radio.com/crews-fully-contain-highlands-fire-in-wyo-so-dak/|title=Highlands Fire Contained In Northeast Wyoming, Southwestern South Dakota|agency=Associated Press|website=K2 Radio|date=5 July 2012 |language=en|access-date=2020-04-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.airmedandrescue.com/latest/news/update-four-killed-maffs-c-130-crash|title=Update: Four killed in MAFFS C-130 crash|last=Langfield|first=Mandy|website=AirMed&Rescue|language=en|access-date=2020-04-08}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":7" /><ref name=":3" />
=== Memorial site === [[File:Family members, friends, and colleagues pay homage to the airmen of the North Carolina Air National Guard C-130 Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System 7 aircraft that crashed while supporting the White Draw Fire 130701-Z-RN486-003.jpg|thumb|Family members, friends, and colleagues pay homage to the airmen of the North Carolina Air National Guard C-130 Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System 7 aircraft that crashed while supporting the White Draw Fire one year ago this day, during the unveiling of an interpretive sign near Edgemont.]] On July 1, 2013, a memorial site was dedicated to honoring the four people who died in the Modular Airborne Firefighting System (MAFFS) C-130 air tanker crash in White Draw Fire in 2012. The memorial site is located near the point of origin, approximately 6 miles northeast of Edgemont on Highway 18.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wildfiretoday.com/2013/07/01/memorial-dedicated-for-the-crew-members-that-died-on-maffs-7/|title=Memorial dedicated for the crew members that died on MAFFS 7|date=2013-07-02|website=Wildfire Today|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-08}}</ref> It consists of a gravel parking area with room for about six vehicles, and it has two interpretive panels.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wildfiretoday.com/tag/white-draw-fire/|title=White Draw Fire Archives|website=Wildfire Today|date=2 August 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-08}}</ref>
== Closure == The Black Hills National Forest management ordered a temporary closure of the White Draw Fire to limit the use of land by the public. The residents, persons with permits, people involved in firefighting activities were exempted from the closure.<ref name=":0" />
==See also== * List of South Dakota wildfires
== References == <references />
Category:2012 wildfires in the United States Category:Natural disasters in South Dakota Category:Fires in South Dakota Category:June 2012 in the United States Category:2012 in South Dakota