Watertown Ditch Fire Near 4th Avenue: Quick Response Prevents Further Damage
- Steve Jurrens
- 8 hours ago
- 1 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Local emergency crews were on the move Wednesday afternoon as Watertown Fire Rescue (WFR) responded to a reported ditch fire near a busy city intersection.
At approximately 3:30 PM on March 25, 2026, WFR teams were dispatched to the intersection of 4th Avenue and 33rd Street SW. Upon arrival, crews discovered two separate areas of fire burning in the south ditch.
To ensure the safety of the firefighters working near the roadway, the Watertown Police Department assisted by shutting down 4th Ave SW between Golf Course Road and 33rd Street SW.
Cultivated Field Aids Containment
The firefighting effort was a multi-unit response involving Brush 1 & Brush 3, Engine 3, and Battalion 1. Crews used the agility of the brush trucks to quickly halt the lateral spread of the flames. Fire officials noted that a neighboring cultivated corn field to the south acted as a natural firebreak, preventing the wind from pushing the blaze further into open land.
In total, the fire consumed approximately 0.50 acres. The two burned patches measured roughly 160 yards and 102 yards in length.
WFR remained on the scene for about an hour to mop up hotspots and confirm the fire was fully extinguished before reopening 4th Avenue to through traffic. No injuries or structural damage were reported.
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