CUSTER, S.D. – Firefighters battling the Qury Fire southeast of Custer are facing a shift toward critical weather conditions today as they work to maintain control lines on the 9,161-acre blaze.

The Type 3 Interagency Incident Management Team, led by Incident Commander Todd Hoover, reported Thursday that containment has reached 44 percent. Despite the progress, officials warned that a warming trend and extremely low humidity could lead to increased activity within the fire’s interior.

“Firefighters are confident the work completed over the last few days will continue to hold throughout these critical weather conditions,” the management team stated in a Thursday update.

The weather forecast for the area, located southwest of Rapid City, calls for a maximum temperature of 72 degrees with wind gusts reaching 25 mph. Relative humidity is expected to drop to approximately 20 percent. While smoke and flames may be visible as larger fuels burn inside the perimeter, officials noted that control lines have held through previous periods of active weather.

There are currently 328 personnel assigned to the incident. In addition to mopping up along the fire’s edge and monitoring unburned pockets of fuel, crews have begun restoring dozer lines. Because of the increased confidence in existing containment, some resources are now available for initial attack on any new fire starts in the Black Hills region.

While repopulation efforts have occurred across the entire fire area, access is strictly limited to residential traffic. Residents returning to their homes must possess an Orange Card issued by Custer County Emergency Management.

Several public closures remain in effect, including Lower French Creek Road from Highway 16A to Highway 87, as well as Hazelrodt, Glen Erin, Flynn Creek, Herbert Draw, and a portion of Highway 87. Wind Cave National Park remains open, though Highway 87 is closed from 16A to the park’s northern boundary.

A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place over the Qury Fire perimeter. Fire officials reminded the public that the use of unauthorized aircraft, including drones, poses a significant safety risk. “If you fly, we can’t,” the team emphasized.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Residents seeking the most current road closure information are directed to the Custer County Sheriff’s social media pages.