Fire & smoking restrictions lifted - KOTA Territory News

Fire & smoking restrictions lifted

Fire use and smoking restrictions in the Black Hills Forest Fire Protection District and the Black Hills National Forest have been downgraded to Stage 1 restrictions.

That means visitors or residents can now build, maintain, attend, or use a campfire or stove fire within a developed recreation site or improved site.

Jim Strain, Chief Fire Management Officer, with the South Dakota Wildland Fire stated; "With the cooling temperatures and high humidity's we are experiencing our fire danger is starting to moderate", Jim continued on to say "although fuels are still dry and there is still potential to have wildland fires, we feel it is safe within designated campgrounds and permitted campfire rings, for visitors and residents to have a campfire."

Residents and visitors wishing to have campfires outside of the Black Hills Forest Fire Protection District are asked to contact local County Officials to see if burn bans are in place.