Bender Ridge Fire, South Dakota
The Bender Ridge Fire is an active wildfire burning in South Dakota, United States. It has burned approximately 48 acres (19 hectares) under a Uncontained classification.
Activity & map
Timeline, Map & Situation
Timeline
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Size reported at approximately 48 acres (19.4 ha)
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Size reported at approximately 30 acres (12.1 ha)
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Status: Uncontained
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Fire discovery / ignition reported
Map
43.8245, -103.2758
Current Situation
The Bender Ridge Fire is an active wildfire burning in South Dakota, United States. It has burned approximately 48 acres (19 hectares) under a Uncontained classification.
Data for this incident was last refreshed 30 minutes ago.
The fire is near Colonial Pine Hills (20.6 km N), Custer (26.7 km W), Rapid City (28.7 km N), Rapid Valley (28.4 km N).
Smoke layers do not currently show a clear plume at the fire site. Nearby active fire activity includes 8 other incidents inside roughly 121 km.
Growth Trend
Agency-reported size for Bender Ridge Fire, South Dakota · 2 samples. Hover a point for exact size.
Environment
Current Conditions
Current Conditions
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Smoke
Layer analysis: Regional PM2.5 forecast haze is active on the live map; point density at this fire is not classified from plume polygons.
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Nearby & Resources
Nearby Fires
View on MapRoad Closures
No full road closures reported within about 25 mi right now.
Nearby Communities
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Colonial Pine Hills
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Custer
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Rapid City
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Rapid Valley
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Box Elder
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Blackhawk
Largest Fires in South Dakota
Community
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Insight
Why This Fire Matters
- One of the 10 largest active fires in South Dakota (currently ranked #5 among tracked incidents in this area).
- Located within 16 mi of nearby communities (closest: Colonial Pine Hills at 13 mi).
- Natural ignition.
- Fire has remained active for 1 day.
Technical Incident Details
| Fire Name | Bender Ridge |
|---|---|
| Agency Fire ID | 2026-SDSDS-260741 |
| Country | United States |
| Province / State | South Dakota |
| Location | Custer |
| Latitude | 43.82445 |
| Longitude | -103.27584 |
| Last Updated | Jul 28, 2026, 10:50 PM PDT |
| Current Status | Uncontained |
| Tracking | Actively tracked |
| Acres Burned | 48 ac |
| Containment % | — |
| Cause | Natural |
| Nearby towns | Colonial Pine Hills (13 mi N), Custer (17 mi W), Rapid City (18 mi N), Rapid Valley (18 mi N), Box Elder (22 mi NE), Blackhawk (23 mi N) |
| Discovery Date | Jul 27, 2026, 11:55 AM PDT |
| Fire Type | OC |
| Data Source | nifc-wfigs |
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the current size of this fire?
The Bender Ridge Fire is currently reported at approximately 48 acres (19 hectares).
Where is this fire located?
The Bender Ridge Fire is located in South Dakota, United States at approximately 43.8245, -103.2758. Nearby towns include Colonial Pine Hills (20.6 km N), Custer (26.7 km W), Rapid City (28.7 km N), Rapid Valley (28.4 km N).
Is this fire contained?
Agencies classify this fire as Uncontained. A numeric containment percentage is not available in the current feed.
When was it discovered?
Discovery (or first listed date) is recorded as 2026-07-27.
Is smoke affecting nearby communities?
No smoke plume is currently mapped near this fire in the smoke analysis layer.
What towns are near this fire?
Nearby settlements include Colonial Pine Hills (13 mi N), Custer (17 mi W), Rapid City (18 mi N), Rapid Valley (18 mi N), Box Elder (22 mi NE), Blackhawk (23 mi N).
How many nearby fires are active?
There are 8 other active wildfires nearby.
What are current weather conditions?
Weather observations are unavailable for this location right now.
Is this fire still actively tracked?
This fire is actively tracked (last update 30 minutes ago).