Watertown Fire Rescue responds to accident, grass fires Wednesday

July 1, 2021
Mike Tanner

WATERTOWN, S.D.–Watertown Fire Rescue was called out to a tractor and grass fire on Sioux Conifer Road near Dakota Sioux Casino Wednesday.

The tractor was being driven down Sioux Conifer heading south with a hay rake attached when the driver noticed smoke coming from the engine.

The tractor caught fire, as did the adjacent ditch.

Fire Rescue arrived to extinguish both fires, and were on the scene for over an hour.

The tractor is a total loss. There were no injuries.

Another grass fire was reported Wednesday afternoon in the 500-block of North Lake Drive.

That’s where a swather appears to have made contact with a rock, causing a spark, and igniting dry grass.

Firefighters were able to knock down the fire, and were on the scene for less than an hour.

Also Thursday, Watertown Fire Rescue was dispatched to a pickup versus motorcycle accident on South Lake Drive Wednesday.

The driver of the motorcycle was westbound, turning into Sandy Shore State Park, when a pickup rear-ended the cycle, sending it to the ground.

The pickup driver was not injured. The driver of the motorcycle was taken to Prairie Lakes Hospital.

Names of those involved were not released.