FAIRBURN, S.D. – Interagency fire resources worked vigorously Sunday mopping up along the perimeter of the 79 Fire to successfully keep the fire within its current footprint.

Containment is now 60% with the fire’s size more precisely measured at 5,408 acres.

From the fire’s initial report Saturday at 11:04 am through early Saturday evening, the wind driven fire, primarily grass, raced just over 7 miles from its starting point just off Hwy 79 up to 144th Ave in E. Custer County. No structures have been lost in this fire.

Due to an extreme lack of moisture in vegetation and in the ground, there is potential for heat to remain beneath the surface. Overnight, resources continued seeking and extinguishing any hidden hot spots to prevent the fire from escaping or expanding.

While air support played a key role in suppression efforts Saturday they were not needed Sunday as the work was focused on groundwork done by hand and firefighting equipment.