SPEARFISH, S.D. – Interagency firefighters continue to strengthen perimeter lines on the 444-acre Lookout Fire, reaching 54 percent containment.

The human-caused blaze, located one mile northeast of Spearfish, has remained largely within the same footprint since Monday night. A Type 3 Interagency Incident Management Team, led by Incident Commander Dewey Arnold and trainee Cody Griffee, is directing suppression efforts.

Fire officials caution that increased fire activity remains a possibility due to ongoing drought conditions and shifting weather patterns. Very dry conditions are forecast for Thursday, with relative humidity levels dropping as low as 10 percent. On Friday, northwest wind gusts of 30 to 35 mph are expected throughout the day alongside relative humidity lows of 20 to 25 percent.

Smoke will remain visible from inside the fire perimeter for the foreseeable future.

Road impacts remain along Interstate 90 northwest of Rapid City, where one northbound lane is closed between mile markers 10 and 12. Drivers are urged to use extra caution due to potential smoke obscuring vision along that stretch. Previously closed local roads in the fire vicinity reopened as of 7 p.m. Wednesday, with additional details provided on the Spearfish Police Department Facebook page.

A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the perimeter of the Lookout Fire. Fire officials warned against flying unauthorized aircraft or drones in the area, emphasizing, “If you fly, we can’t.”