South Dakota\u00a0Gov. Kristi Noem said at a Monday afternoon press conference that the now 75-acre\u00a0fire is not threatening Mount Rushmore at this time.<\/p>\n
She arrived in Rapid City Monday to “oversee the response efforts” to both fires. The cause of both fires is currently unknown.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2021\/03\/29\/PSIF\/60e791e1-ab63-41c8-adf9-81430e864c48-6062367781852.image.jpg?width=540&height=&fit=bounds&auto=webp\")
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Smoke from the Schroeder Fire heads south across the Black Hills on Monday. The fire started about four miles west of Rapid City, and strong winds sent it to the southeast on Monday. (Photo: Siandhara Bonnet \/ Rapid City Journal)<\/span><\/p>\n Noem said the Schroeder fire started on private property and that the\u00a0Federal Emergency Management Agency has authorized federal funds for fighting the Schroeder fire.<\/p>\n “There has been losses and that is tragic for these families,” Noem said. “But the priority needs to be to keep people safe and getting these fires put out.”<\/p>\n Authorities said several outbuildings had been destroyed as well as two residences.\u00a0<\/p>\n The fires are burning timber with very high potential for spread due to elevated winds, according to the Rapid City Journal.\u00a0High winds knocked out power for Black Hills residents, power company Black Hills Energy\u00a0said on Twitter.<\/p>\n As of noon CT, winds shifted to the southeast as a cold front moved through, but gusts were expected to be up to 60 mph through the afternoon, National Weather Service meteorologist Katie\u00a0Pojorlie said.\u00a0<\/p>\n And with northwesterly winds expected to increase to 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 45 mph, the National Weather Service in Rapid City have extended a\u00a0red flag warning through Tuesday for the region.<\/p>\n