Category: History  Listing Date: 2015-06-13

Jasper 15 Years Later

A road-side sign states it simply and clearly;

"On August 24, 2000, a carelessly dropped match stated what would become the largest fire in the recorded history of South Dakota. By the time the inferno finished its race through the forest, it had consumed 83,508 acres, in a swath 8 miles wide and 10 miles long. At its peak, more than 1,000 fire fighters battled the blaze, and more than 100 homes were evacuated."

This was nearly 15 years ago and the landscape still reminds us of what happened in 2000. The recent heavy rains in the area have produced grass as green as is ever seen here. The clouds, the sun and the ground, still wet from the rain, make for spectacular views. Photos cannot capture what the eye sees.