More Ranchers Sue Feds Over Spread Of 2013 Prescribed Burn

More northwestern South Dakota ranchers are suing the U.S. Forest Service for a 2013 prescribed burn that escaped its boundaries and scorched private land. A third lawsuit has been filed in federal court alleging that the U.S. Forest Service committed numerous errors in its preparation and execution of the fire. Two similar lawsuits were filed last week in federal court. The third lawsuit brings to 25 the number of ranchers seeking unspecified damages for the April 3, 2013 blaze. Crews intended to burn about one-third of a square mile of the Dakota Prairie National Grasslands. The burn spread across 17 square miles, including 11 square miles of privately owned land, and it took firefighters four days to contain it.  KDLT