South Dakota Fires

Daily Wildfire Report for South Dakota - July 23, 2026

Overview

South Dakota is experiencing an elevated fire risk driven by a historically warm and dry preceding winter, ongoing drought conditions, and extreme summer heat. These factors have left the landscape blanketed in continuous cured prairie grasses and dry timber, creating highly receptive fuel beds across the state. The current National Preparedness Level remains high, indicating that national firefighting resources are heavily committed across multiple geographic areas, making local mitigation and initial attack efforts vital.

Current Situation

Fire Activity: There are currently multiple active fires in South Dakota, and significant wildland fire activity is occurring across the region. Over the last 72 hours, firefighters have been aggressively working to suppress new ignitions sparked by dry conditions and human activity, while continuing to manage larger, ongoing incidents. Aircraft and local mutual aid crews have been heavily utilized to provide initial suppression tactics on these new starts.

Key Fires:

• South Fork Fire: Currently the largest fire of the season in the region, having burned 39,696 acres near the South Dakota-Nebraska border. The fire is primarily being fueled by continuous dry prairie grasses and mixed timber.
• Anderson Bridge Fire: This significant fire has consumed 17,229 acres and continues to burn through dry brush and grass fuels.
• Qury Fire: Located in the Custer area, this fire has burned 9,168 acres. It previously prompted evacuations and threatened local properties, burning heavily in timber and understory brush.
• Recent 72-Hour Ignitions: Within the last 72 hours, several smaller, fast-moving wildland fires have sparked across the state. This includes the New H Fire (77 acres), a 6-acre blaze off Elk Vale Road in Rapid City, a 2-acre fire near Kickstands Campground (Sturgis/Piedmont area), and two fires in Fall River County that have burned a combined 23 acres.

Prescribed Burns and Land Management: Due to rapidly increasing fire danger, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) South Dakota Field Office implemented Stage 2 Fire Restrictions beginning July 15, 2026. These restrictions apply to all BLM lands within Butte, Custer, Fall River, Haakon, Harding, Lawrence, Meade, Pennington, Perkins, Stanley, and Ziebach counties. The restrictions prohibit building campfires, operating internal combustion engines from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m., and welding. Additionally, several counties, including Campbell and Pennington, have enacted temporary burn bans prohibiting all outdoor burning when the Grassland Fire Danger Index is rated as "Very High" or "Extreme."

Weather and Wind Warnings

Current Weather: Extreme summer heat and dry air continue to dominate the region, rapidly drying out vegetation and increasing the availability of surface fuels.
Forecasted Weather: Severe Red Flag Warnings have been active over the last 72 hours for parts of the state, including Corson, Dewey, Campbell, Walworth, and Potter counties. The National Weather Service has tracked dangerous combinations of strong winds and low relative humidity. Sustained northwest winds of 15 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph, and relative humidity dropping to around 20 percent have been recorded. These conditions significantly enhance the potential for rapid, erratic wildfire spread. Any fires that develop in this environment will spread rapidly.

Recommendations

Public Awareness: Residents are advised to be mindful of fire traffic, potential smoke impacts, and to strictly follow all local, state, and federal fire restrictions. It is crucial to have an emergency evacuation plan in place and to clear dead brush from properties to reduce the risk of catastrophic fires. Outdoor burning is not recommended and is strictly prohibited in many jurisdictions under the current conditions.
Resource Allocation: Firefighters are working under challenging conditions with extreme heat. Agencies are relying on mutual aid support and rapid aircraft deployment to keep new fire starts small and protect local communities, infrastructure, and values at risk.

Resources

For up-to-date emergency information, residents can visit:
National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC): www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn
South Dakota Wildland Fire (Department of Public Safety): dps.sd.gov/emergency-services/wildland-fire
Great Plains Fire Information: gpfires.net

Stay informed and prepared by monitoring these resources regularly.