From the US Forest Service

News Release 
Media Contact: Scott Jacobson
(605) 440-1409
sjjacobson@fs.fed.us
 
Make Safety a Priority this Holiday Weekend on the Black Hills National Forest
 
Custer, SD, August 29, 2019 - The three-day Labor Day weekend provides ample time and opportunity for a variety of outdoor recreational activities on the Black Hills National Forest. Swimming, boating, camping, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, water-skiing, picnicking, wildlife watching, fishing, birding and bicycling are just a few of the many activities enjoyed by residents and visitors to the Forest.
Sunny days with high temperatures can result in sunburn, dehydration, and heat stroke. Whether enjoying water sports or land-based activities, be prepared for health and safety concerns that might affect you while having fun. Wherever you go this weekend, bring your sunscreen, sunglasses, wide-brimmed hat, appropriate footwear and plenty of water and food. Remember to pack a life-vest if you are planning to enjoy water-sports. Leave a planned itinerary, including what time you will be home, with friends or family before taking off into the Forest.
Forest Service fire and fuels staff are advising National Forest visitors to use caution with campfires. Attention over the Labor Day holiday weekend and throughout the fall should also be given to identifying other sources that could ignite a wildfire, such as discarded cigarettes or hot mufflers on vehicles parked in tall, dry grass. 
 
Always make sure that campfires are thoroughly extinguished before leaving a fire unattended. This is effectively done by stirring coals and other burned materials with water until cold to the touch. Even if your fire is a relatively small warming fire, the fire should be dead out before you leave the site.
 
A major culprit of human-caused fires that require the attention of Forest Service fire crews is escaped campfires which are not fully extinguished.
 
Your local Forest Service office is a great source of information for the latest updates on conditions and recreation opportunities on the National Forest. Helpful staff at offices and the Pactola Visitor Center can provide information on local road conditions, recommend places to take your family camping and sell visitor maps to help make the most of your adventure to the Forest. Please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/blackhills/about-forest/contactus/?cid=s… for location, contact information, and regular business hours.
 
Offices on the Black Hills National Forest will be closed Monday, Sept. 2 in observance of the Labor Day holiday. Regular office hours will resume Tuesday, Sept. 3.
 
For more information about the Black Hills National Forest visit, www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills and/or follow the Forest Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/blackhillsnf/