Thousands of acres of already parched pasture land parched like paper Thursday afternoon in a massive grass fire that clos U Highway 12 east of Mobridge for nearly brace hours.

Thousands of acres of already parched pasture land parched like paper Thursday afternoon in a massive grass fire that clos U Highway 12 east of Mobridge for nearly brace hours.

Fed by the agency of hot, dry, southerly winds that peaked at 35 mph the fast-traveling fire pass by a leaped the highway from south to north, spewing close billowing clouds of mostly white mist across about a mile-long extend of highway, and high into the air.

The white haze lifted, revealing a vista of blackened, rolling hills starting at least a mile toward the south of the highway and stretching at least five miles north and still relentlessly advancing in that direction around 6 pm as winds continued to drive the fire.

individual square mile is 640 acres. Five square miles comprise 3200 acres.

After the highway reopen in late afternoon, law enforcement vehicles serv as pilot cars to guide motorists in consequence of ...