South Dakota Delegation Says Feds Should Process Claims from 2013 Fire

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota's congressional delegation says the federal government hasn't processed any claims from residents who incurred damages from a prescribed fire that grew out of control over two years ago.

U.S. Sens. John Thune and Mike Rounds and U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem sent a letter Wednesday to U.S. Agriculture Department Secretary Tom Vilsack. The delegation says the federal government should resolve and approve all "reasonable claims" related to the Pautre fire of April 2013.

The fire in southwestern North Dakota and northwestern South Dakota began as a 130-acre controlled burn on the Grand River National Grasslands. It escaped containment and blackened nearly 16 square miles.

The delegation says the fire destroyed fences, bales of forage, buildings and trees.

A USDA spokesman said he couldn't immediately comment on the matter.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.