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: 104 AM MDT Wed Jun 24 2026

Harding / Northern Perkins / Butte / Northern Meade Co Plains / Ziebach / Northern Foothills / Rapid City / Custer Co Plains / Pennington Co Plains / Haakon / Northern Oglala Lakota / Northern Jackson / Bennett / Mellette / Todd / Tripp / Sturgis/Piedmont Foothills / Southern Meade Co Plains / Hermosa Foothills / Southern Oglala Lakota / Southern Jackson / Southern Perkins

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 Thursday afternoon, The grassland fire danger index will reach the low category to moderate category.

Cities (22)

Buffalo, Camp Crook, Ladner, Ludlow, Redig, Reva, Lemmon, Shadehill, Meadow, Prairie City, Belle Fourche, Newell, Vale, Fruitdale, Belle Fourche Reservoir, Hoover, Faith, Mud Butte, Red Owl, Howes, Opal, Dupree, Glad Valley, Cherry Creek, South Eagle Butte, Spearfish, Whitewood, Saint Onge, Rapid City, Folsom, Box Elder, Caputa, New Underwood, Wasta, Wall, Scenic, Quinn, Philip, Midland, Milesville, Kyle, Rockyford, Sharps Corner, Kadoka, Cottonwood, Interior, Belvidere, Martin, Allen, Tuthill, Harrington, White River, Wood, Norris, Cedar Butte, Mission, Rosebud, Saint Francis, Parmelee, Winner, Colome, Witten, Hamill, Ideal, Sturgis, Piedmont, Black Hawk, Summerset, Tilford, Ellsworth AFB, Union Center, Elm Springs, Enning, White Owl, Hermosa, Buffalo Gap, Fairburn, Pine Ridge, Oglala, Wounded Knee, Porcupine, Manderson, Batesland, Long Valley, Wanblee, Potato Creek, Usta, Bison, Sorum, and Zeona

Southern Foothills / Western Fall River / Eastern Fall River

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 Thursday afternoon, The grassland fire danger index will reach the low category.

Cities (3)

Hot Springs, Angostura Reservoir, Ardmore, Edgemont, Provo, Rumford, Oral, Oelrichs, and Smithwick

Source: weather.gov/unr/rfd · Last fetched: Wed, 24 Jun 2026 17:23:12 GMT (cached)

Black Hills National Forest Fire Danger

USDA Forest Service danger ratings by ranger district.

Northern Hills

Moderate
Low
Moderate
High
Very High
Extreme

Fires can start from lightning or humans, but generally the number of starts is low.

Central Hills

Moderate
Low
Moderate
High
Very High
Extreme

Fires can start from lightning or humans, but generally the number of starts is low.

Southern Hills

Moderate
Low
Moderate
High
Very High
Extreme

Fires can start from lightning or humans, but generally the number of starts is low.

Source: USDA Forest Service — Black Hills NF · Last fetched: Wed, 24 Jun 2026 17:23:13 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.