Fire Destroys South Dakota Ammunition Plant

A scary fire broke out at the Ultramax ammunition plant in Box Elder, just outside of Rapid City.

Businesses within 2,000 feet of the building were evacuated. Large quantities of ammunition and gunpowder were inside the building. Kids at nearby schools were kept inside to keep them away from the smoke.

From the Rapid City Journal:

The fire burned through a large supply of ammunition and powder, Rapid City Fire Department Lt. Jim Bussell said, and was starting to slow down as of early Tuesday afternoon. No other structures were damaged, but the Ultramax building was a "total loss."

The ATF said a fire investigator from its Sioux Falls office will be in Rapid City on Wednesday to look into the blaze, along with the state fire marshal. The total amount of property lost in the fire was not immediately clear, said Kurt Wheeler, supervisor of the ATF in South Dakota.

Ultramax Ammunition, founded in 1986, is one of six ammunition manufacturers based in the Rapid City Area, according to the ATF. Ultramax's company website says it is "one of the ammunition industry's leading suppliers."

Ultramax manufactures .223 Remington, .223 Nosler, and .308 Winchester rifle ammunition as well as a variety of handgun ammunition in the more popular calibers. They also are a law enforcement ammunition distributor.