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 by 2 PM.

Multiple fire departments, including crews from Lake Andes, Ravinia, and Wagner, responded to the incident. While the recycling center suffered significant equipment losses, including two balers, a skid steer, and various tools, firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to the casino property.

The recycling facility, which houses equipment and a propane tank, is located on tribal property east of the gaming complex. Danielle Zephier, a recycling center employee, expressed relief that the propane tank remained unaffected, noting that the situation "could have been worse."

The Fort Randall Casino reopened shortly after the fire was extinguished. The casino, owned and operated by the Yankton Sioux Tribe, features 298 slot machines, a three-story hotel, lounge, and restaurant. Located 119 miles southwest of Sioux Falls, the facility typically operates from 10 AM to 2 AM Tuesday through Wednesday.

The casino management expressed gratitude to the emergency responders on social media, thanking them for their "swift and efficient response" in protecting the community.

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