Fire DangerExtreme: Dry, windy conditions raise fire potential

Fire conditions in and around Weston County continue to be extreme as firefighters battle blazes across the state, according to Daniel Tysdal, Weston County fire warden. Because of the heightened danger, restrictions are being implemented and increased across the area, and specialized teams are waiting to respond and suppress fires before they get out of control.

“We are kind of having an anomalous October, as the National Weather Service said, with continued hot, dry and windy conditions,” Tysdal said. “We want to make sure that everyone continues to exercise extreme caution.”

According to Tysdal, the Weston County Fire Protection District has responded to well over 100 incidents since Jan. 1. Between 55 and 60 of those were woodland fire calls.

Four of those incidents occurred this past weekend, Tysdal said. He noted that the fires were extinguished fairly quickly, thanks to teams such as the Eldorado Hot Shots, South Dakota Black Cats and a contract hand crew that are staged in the area to respond rapidly to put down blazes.

Because of the heightened level of fire danger, the Black Hills National Forest is implementing Stage 2 fire and smoking restrictions, according to an Oct. 4 press release. However, Scott Jacobson, a U.S. Forest Service public affairs officer, said this fire season has been “kind of average. He noted that since January, there have been 98 fires on the Black Hills National Forest with 565 acres burned.

“Our 30-year wildfire average is 99 fires that burn 7,900 acres per year. The acres are kind of high in the 30-year average, but it takes into account the large fires, such as the Jasper fire in 2000 that burned 83,000 acres,” Jacobson said.

According to Jacobson, the Black Hills National Forest has been “a bit lucky” this year, considering the dry conditions and lack of moisture.

“Our firefighters have done an extremely good job in suppressing the fires we’ve had and keeping them from becoming big,” he said. “We are very hopeful that the Stage 2 fire restrictions will help prevent further unwanted wildfire on the Forest.”

In addition to the Black Hills, Stage 1 fire restrictions will be in place for all Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland beginning Oct. 8, according to a release dated Oct. 7.

According to the release from the Black Hills National Forest, “Western SD and eastern WY are in a period of drought forecasted to increase in intensity.  Fuels are extremely dry and susceptible to wildfire outbreaks. Implementing Stage 2 fire restrictions allows the public to recreate in the Black Hills National Forest while still enacting preventative measures to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires.”

Restrictions are necessary on the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland because of the “dry fuel conditions, persistent fire weather patterns, and the danger of human-caused wildfires. Recent dry, windy, and hot weather conditions have resulted in an elevated potential for wildfires. Fire restrictions will help protect public health and safety, as well as natural resources,” the release says.

While most fires are caused by lightning, according to both Tysdal and Jacobson, human-caused fires can cause unnecessary issues during extreme fire danger.

“Three fires over the weekend were human-caused,” Tysdal said.

He noted that while one was unintentionally caused by the railroad tracks, two are suspected of being intentionally caused, raising concerns among county officials.

Tysdal said that while the incidents are still under investigation, the public should report any concerning behavior.

“It is imperative that people be cautious,” he said.

Details on the fire restrictions for the Black Hills National Forest can be found at fs.usda.gov/detail/blackhills/
notices/?cid=STELPRDB5117120. Information on Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland restrictions can be found at fs.usda.gov/main/mbr/fire.