Dry and dangerous — County urges caution as fire danger escalates

Weston County officials are urging residents to avoid open burning as increasingly dry conditions and worsening fire danger continue to grip the region.

Although formal county wide fire restrictions had not yet been in place at the time of the warning, Fire Warden Daniel Tysdal said conditions have deteriorated significantly in recent weeks, with little precipitation and no relief in the forecast.

“It seems any chances of precipitation over the past several weeks have come and gone without anything beneficial developing across the county,” Tysdal said.

According to Tysdal, thousands of acres are already burning in surrounding areas, and forecasts suggest the situation could worsen. He pointed to an outlook from South Dakota State Fire Meteorologist Dr. Darren Clabo, who warned that the coming weeks will likely remain warm and dry with minimal opportunity for moisture.

“To be frank, this is one of the more bleak forecasts that I’ve seen,” Clabo said. “Gear up for the near-term critical fire weather conditions and be mentally ready to stay in it for the long haul this spring.”

The U.S. Drought Monitor currently classifies all of Weston County in moderate drought, with southern portions of the county experiencing severe drought conditions. Combined with above-average temperatures, dry air masses and persistent winds, officials say the region is facing critical to extreme fire weather.

As a result, Weston County has since implemented Stage 1 open burning restrictions, effective March 24, citing a “potentially severe to extreme fire situation” driven by heavy fuel loads and dry conditions that could overwhelm local fire-fighting resources.

Under the restrictions, outdoor fires, fireworks and exploding targets are prohibited in unimproved areas of the county, with limited exceptions. Small campfires are allowed only in controlled settings, such as fire rings with a cleared radius and proper suppression tools on hand. Trash burning is restricted to specific hours and must be conducted in approved containers with spark arresters.

Certain activities, including the use of enclosed grills, portable stoves and some industrial equipment, are still permitted if proper safety precautions are followed.

Violations of the restrictions may result in penalties, including fines, jail time or liability for fire suppression costs.

Tysdal emphasized that even before restrictions were enacted, residents were being asked to voluntarily refrain from burning and to use extreme caution with any outdoor activity that could spark a fire.

“With conditions this dry and no relief in sight, it’s critical that everyone does their part to prevent new fires,” he said.

Commissioner Marty Ertman also encouraged the public to remain diligent with fires. She also suggested the county might need to look into Stage 2 restrictions if conditions worsen.