RAPID CITY, S.D. — A pre-dawn fire tore through a detached agricultural shelter at Reptile Gardens early Friday, killing an undetermined number of tortoises and alligators and forcing the popular attraction to close for the day.
The Rockerville Volunteer Fire Department said crews were dispatched shortly after 12:40 a.m. and arrived to find heavy flames and smoke on the south side of the property, where some reptiles were housed. Firefighters launched an immediate attack that contained the blaze to the structure of origin, preventing it from spreading to nearby buildings or vegetation.
No injuries to firefighters or civilians were reported.
Multiple agencies assisted at the scene, including Rapid City Fire, Battle Creek Fire, Whispering Pines Fire, Hill City Fire, Pennington County Fire Administration, the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Pennington County 911, Black Hills Electric Cooperative, MDU, and the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Officials said the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Reptile Gardens will remain closed Friday as crews continue their assessment.