CUSTER STATE PARK, S.D. (KELO.com) -- On the fifth day of the Legion Lake fire in Custer State Park, the wildfire remained at 50 percent containment Friday morning, but firefighters expect steady progress.
Fire Spokeswoman Stephani Rust is optimistic, despite the challenges of the rugged terrain.
"We want to kind of close the loop, and make sure those lines will hold. So containment is actually when we have a perimeter around the fire."
They must feel like they are getting the upper hand, because Rust says a partial demobilization of fire fighting units is underway. For example, ten firefighters from Sioux Falls were told they could go home.
Weather should help in the coming days, with colder temperatures and some snow possible.
Custer State Park is holding an unscheduled buffalo roundup of its famed herd because of the fire. The Park's Kobee Stalder says the hundreds of bison are being corralled and vaccinated for pneumonia.
"Pneumonia is a big concern now because the wildfire, with their lungs breathing in all that smoke and ash."
Stalder says that so far, but for some singed fur, the herd looks to be safe and basically sound.
