State park fire grows; official confident lodges will stand

CUSTER, S.D. (AP) — A spreading wildfire destroyed an unused building in Custer State Park in the Black Hills of South Dakota, but an official expressed confidence Tuesday that the blaze won't claim visitor lodges in the park.

Officials said the fire had grown to more than 6.25 square miles (16.2 square kilometers), up from than 4.6 square miles (11.9 sq. km) reported Tuesday morning. Kobee Stalder, the park's visitor services program manager, told KELO-AM that firefighters have concentrated on protecting structures including Blue Bell Lodge and the State Game Lodge.

"We can tip our hats and thank our firefighters that we haven't lost any of these buildings," Stalder said.