McVey Fire

McVey Fire
Black and white photograph of charred pine trees in a forest.
Trees burned by the fire
Date(s)July 10–12, 1939
LocationBlack Hills, South Dakota, US
Coordinates44°01′03″N 103°37′12″W / 44.0175°N 103.62°W / 44.0175; -103.62
Statistics
Burned area20,729 acres (8,389 ha)
Land useForest
Impacts
Deaths0
Non-fatal injuries0
Livestock losses100 cattle[1]
Ignition
CauseLightning
Map
McVey Fire is located in South Dakota
McVey Fire
General location of the fire in South Dakota

The McVey Fire was a wildfire that occurred in July 1939 in the Black Hills of South Dakota, United States. It burned 20,729 acres (8,389 ha) and is one of the largest fires in Black Hills history.[2] After the fire, the United States Forest Service (USFS) accidentally planted thousands of acres of a non-native species of ponderosa pine inside the burn scar. In 2022, the USFS began replacing the trees.[3]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference riley was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Restoration Work Occurring in the 1939 McVey Burn Area Near Hill City, SD" (Press release). Forest Service. March 2, 2022. Archived from the original on July 5, 2024. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference huber was invoked but never defined (see the help page).