Black Hills Fire Danger

Live stoplight for forest & grassland fire danger

UTC —
Mountain (Black Hills) —

South Dakota Grassland (Rural) Fire Danger

National Weather Service Rapid City — covers western South Dakota rangelands surrounding the Black Hills.

Issued: 341 AM MDT Mon Aug 24 2026

Northern Perkins / Northern Meade Co Plains / Northern Foothills / Southern Foothills / Custer Co Plains / Northern Oglala Lakota / Sturgis/Piedmont Foothills / Southern Meade Co Plains / Southern Oglala Lakota / Southern Perkins

High
Low
Moderate
High
Very High
Extreme

The grassland fire danger index will reach the high category this afternoon. Unfavorable weather conditions and low moisture content of grasses, and other dry organic material on the ground, indicate that there is high potential for a fire to spread. Outdoor burning should be restricted to early morning or evening hours when wind speeds are usually lower and the relative humidity is higher.

Outlook: The outlook for Tuesday afternoon, The grassland fire danger index will reach the moderate category to very high category.

Cities (10)

Lemmon, Shadehill, Meadow, Prairie City, Faith, Mud Butte, Red Owl, Howes, Opal, Spearfish, Whitewood, Saint Onge, Hot Springs, Angostura Reservoir, Folsom, Kyle, Rockyford, Sharps Corner, Sturgis, Piedmont, Black Hawk, Summerset, Tilford, Ellsworth AFB, Union Center, Elm Springs, Enning, White Owl, Pine Ridge, Oglala, Wounded Knee, Porcupine, Manderson, Batesland, Usta, Bison, Sorum, and Zeona

Ziebach / Rapid City / Pennington Co Plains / Northern Jackson / Hermosa Foothills / Southern Jackson

Moderate
Low
Moderate
High
Very High
Extreme

The grassland fire danger index will reach the moderate category this afternoon. Marginal weather conditions or a lowering moisture content of grasses, and other dry organic material on the ground, indicate that there is some potential for a fire to spread. Any outdoor burning should be closely monitored.

Outlook: The outlook for Tuesday afternoon, The grassland fire danger index will reach the moderate category to high category.

Cities (6)

Dupree, Glad Valley, Cherry Creek, South Eagle Butte, Rapid City, Box Elder, Caputa, New Underwood, Wasta, Wall, Scenic, Quinn, Kadoka, Cottonwood, Interior, Belvidere, Hermosa, Buffalo Gap, Fairburn, Long Valley, Wanblee, and Potato Creek

Harding / Butte / Western Fall River / Eastern Fall River

Very High
Low
Moderate
High
Very High
Extreme

The grassland fire danger index will reach the very high category this afternoon. Very poor weather conditions and very low moisture content of grasses, and other dry organic material on the ground, indicate that dangerous burning conditions exist. Fires will spread rapidly and show erratic behavior. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

Outlook: The outlook for Tuesday afternoon, The grassland fire danger index will reach the high category to very high category.

Cities (4)

Buffalo, Camp Crook, Ladner, Ludlow, Redig, Reva, Belle Fourche, Newell, Vale, Fruitdale, Belle Fourche Reservoir, Hoover, Ardmore, Edgemont, Provo, Rumford, Oral, Oelrichs, and Smithwick

Haakon / Bennett / Mellette / Todd / Tripp

Low
Low
Moderate
High
Very High
Extreme

The grassland fire danger index will reach the low category this afternoon. Favorable weather conditions or a high moisture content of grasses, and other dry organic material on the ground, indicate that the probability of a fast moving fire is low. Outdoor burning under these conditions can usually be performed with reasonable safety precautions, but should be monitored.

Outlook: The outlook for Tuesday afternoon, The grassland fire danger index will reach the low category to moderate category.

Cities (5)

Philip, Midland, Milesville, Martin, Allen, Tuthill, Harrington, White River, Wood, Norris, Cedar Butte, Mission, Rosebud, Saint Francis, Parmelee, Winner, Colome, Witten, Hamill, and Ideal

Source: weather.gov/unr/rfd · Last fetched: Mon, 24 Aug 2026 13:17:31 GMT (cached)

Black Hills National Forest Fire Danger

USDA Forest Service danger ratings by ranger district.

Northern Hills

Very High
Low
Moderate
High
Very High
Extreme

Fires start easily from all causes and spread rapidly with quick intensity. Spot fires may occur.

Central Hills

Extreme
Low
Moderate
High
Very High
Extreme

Fires start very easily from all causes, spread furiously and burn intensely. Spot fires are frequent and expected.

Southern Hills

Extreme
Low
Moderate
High
Very High
Extreme

Fires start very easily from all causes, spread furiously and burn intensely. Spot fires are frequent and expected.

Source: USDA Forest Service — Black Hills NF · Last fetched: Mon, 24 Aug 2026 13:17:31 GMT (cached)

Fire Danger Scale

LowFuels do not ignite readily from small firebrands. Fires in open or cured grasslands may burn freely a few hours after rain, but woods fires spread slowly.
ModerateFires can start from lightning or humans, but generally the number of starts is low. Fires in open grasslands may burn briskly. Average fire is of moderate intensity.
HighAll fine dead fuels ignite readily. Fires start easily from most causes and may become serious. Direct attack at the head of fires can be made by trained firefighters.
Very HighFires start easily from all causes. They spread rapidly and have a quick increase in intensity right after ignition. Direct attack on the head is rarely possible after fires gain headway.
ExtremeFires start quickly, spread furiously, and burn intensely. All fires are potentially serious. Development into high-intensity burns is faster and easier than at lower levels.