RAPID CITY, S.D.(KOTA)- An already lean Rapid City Fire Department has seen some specialist crews called to fight wildland fires throughout the interior west.

Tessa Jaeger, public information officer for RCFD, said the crews have been sent to Nevada and Wyoming.

While new firefighters are being hired and teams will be returning soon, in the meantime local crews are seeing longer hours.

All the while, dry drought conditions loom in the Black Hills.

Recent smoke in the Rapid City area has been the result of the various fires being battled around the West and Canada.