A fire at the Yankton Sioux Tribe (YST) Recycling Center in Wagner, South Dakota, prompted the temporary closure of the nearby Fort Randall Casino on Tuesday afternoon.

The blaze began around noon and was successfully contained to the recycling facility, thanks to swift action from multiple fire departments including Lake Andes, Ravinia, and Wagner crews. Emergency responders extinguished the fire by approximately 2 p.m., allowing the casino to resume operations shortly after.

The recycling center, located on tribal property east of the gaming complex, suffered significant equipment losses, including two balers, a skid steer, and various tools. A potentially dangerous situation was averted as firefighters prevented the fire from reaching a propane tank stored within the facility.

"Right now, we're just in shock," said Danielle Zephier, a recycling center employee. "Thankfully, the propane tank didn't catch on fire, or things could have been worse."

The Fort Randall Casino, owned and operated by the Yankton Sioux Tribe, features 298 slot machines and includes a three-story hotel, lounge, and restaurant. The facility operates from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesday through Wednesday and is situated approximately 119 miles southwest of Sioux Falls.

The casino management expressed gratitude to emergency responders on social media for their quick and effective response to the incident. No damage estimates have been released, and no injuries were reported.

Related Articles

Previous Articles