Updated: 5 p.m. June 26

Started: 7 months ago, 11:49 a.m. Dec. 3

Initial location: Lawrence County, S.D.

Fire type: Prescribed

Fire name: Rat

The pile burning project, known as Rat, was initiated 11:49 a.m. Dec. 3 at in Lawrence County, South Dakota.

Since it was initiated seven months ago, the prescribed fire has burned 900 acres of federal land managed by the United States Forest Service.

Prescribed fire (prescribed burn) is a wildfire prevention method that involves burning an area of land in a controlled manner to minimize the risk of catastrophic wildfires.

Source: National Interagency Fire Center