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: 331 AM MDT Thu Oct 22 2026

Northern Meade Co Plains / Custer Co Plains / Pennington Co Plains / Haakon / Northern Oglala Lakota / Southern Meade Co Plains

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 Friday afternoon, The grassland fire danger index will reach the high category to very high category.

Cities (6)

Faith, Mud Butte, Red Owl, Howes, Opal, Folsom, Box Elder, Caputa, New Underwood, Wasta, Wall, Scenic, Quinn, Philip, Midland, Milesville, Kyle, Rockyford, Sharps Corner, Ellsworth AFB, Union Center, Elm Springs, Enning, and White Owl

Harding / Northern Perkins / Butte / Ziebach / Rapid City / Southern Foothills / Western Fall River / Northern Jackson / Bennett / Mellette / Todd / Tripp / Sturgis/Piedmont Foothills / Hermosa Foothills / Eastern Fall River / Southern Oglala Lakota / Southern Jackson / Southern Perkins

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 Friday afternoon, The grassland fire danger index will reach the moderate category to very high category.

Cities (18)

Buffalo, Camp Crook, Ladner, Ludlow, Redig, Reva, Lemmon, Shadehill, Meadow, Prairie City, Belle Fourche, Newell, Vale, Fruitdale, Belle Fourche Reservoir, Hoover, Dupree, Glad Valley, Cherry Creek, South Eagle Butte, Rapid City, Hot Springs, Angostura Reservoir, Ardmore, Edgemont, Provo, Rumford, 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, Hermosa, Buffalo Gap, Fairburn, Oral, Oelrichs, Smithwick, Pine Ridge, Oglala, Wounded Knee, Porcupine, Manderson, Batesland, Long Valley, Wanblee, Potato Creek, Usta, Bison, Sorum, and Zeona

Northern Foothills

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 Friday afternoon, The grassland fire danger index will reach the high category.

Cities (1)

Spearfish, Whitewood, and Saint Onge

Source: weather.gov/unr/rfd · Last fetched: Thu, 22 Oct 2026 15:15:24 GMT (cached)

Black Hills National Forest Fire Danger

USDA Forest Service danger ratings by ranger district.

Northern Hills

High
Low
Moderate
High
Very High
Extreme

Fires can easily start from most causes and are more likely to escape or spread rapidly.

Central Hills

High
Low
Moderate
High
Very High
Extreme

Fires can easily start from most causes and are more likely to escape or spread rapidly.

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: Thu, 22 Oct 2026 15:15:24 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.