South Dakota Fires

Daily Wildfire Report for South Dakota - May 03, 2026

Overview

South Dakota is experiencing an elevated fire risk due to extreme fire weather conditions over the last 72 hours, driving new starts and rapid growth across the state. Unseasonably warm temperatures, strong winds, and dry fuels have created potentially risky situations for wildfires.
The current National Preparedness Level is 2, signaling the start of an active fire year with national resources supporting local efforts.

Current Situation

Fire Activity: There are currently multiple active fires in South Dakota, requiring multi-agency and local volunteer fire department support to manage incident objectives. Over the last 72 hours, extreme fire weather has driven new starts and rapid growth across the state. The potential for new significant wildfires to start in the next several days remains high due to these extreme conditions. Firefighters are working to contain these fires while also preparing for potential new starts.

Key Fires:

• Route 13 Fire: Located in Ziebach County, this is the largest fire of the season in the state, having burned approximately 33,928 acres after three individual fires merged.
• 79 Fire: Located near Buffalo Gap in Custer County, this fire has grown to approximately 6,000 acres and remains active. It is primarily burning through dry grass, exhibiting explosive, wind-driven growth.
• Taber Rec Fire: Located ten miles south of Taber in Bon Homme County, this fire has burned approximately 4,000 acres and is currently around 20% contained.
• War Creek Fire: Located in Jones County, this significant grassland fire has burned approximately 2,602 acres.
• Bauman Fire: Located 12 miles east of Wanblee in Jackson County (Pine Ridge Agency), this fire is estimated at 1,000 acres and remains at 0-5% containment. It is burning primarily in grass, brush, and timber across very rough, inaccessible terrain, with structures currently threatened.
• Murphy Fire: Located two miles northwest of Hermosa in Pennington County, this fire has burned approximately 423 acres and is 10% contained. It is burning in timber, and while showing minimal fire behavior with smoldering, local residences remain threatened.

Prescribed Burns and Land Management: Due to the extreme fire danger, open burning is strongly discouraged, and local authorities are enforcing restrictions. For instance, Beadle County has issued an active burn ban, requiring residents to report any controlled burns and adhere strictly to local ordinances to prevent accidental spread. Residents are urged to avoid outdoor burning entirely during Red Flag conditions. Additionally, the South Dakota Army National Guard recently conducted aerial water delivery training at Angostura Reservoir to certify helicopter crews for wildfire suppression operations alongside state and local fire departments.

Air Quality: Smoke from the active wildfires in South Dakota, as well as prescribed burns in neighboring regions, is drifting southeast, potentially impacting local air quality.

Weather and Wind Warnings

Current Weather: Unseasonably warm temperatures and dry air are present across the state, with relative humidity dropping to critically low levels between 12-20%.
Forecasted Weather: Red Flag Warnings have been issued for parts of southeastern and all of south-central South Dakota, as well as neighboring regions. Critical fire weather concerns are expected, with winds increasing and gusts of 20 to 30 mph, and some areas seeing damaging wind gusts up to 60 mph. Scattered thunderstorms may also develop, some of which could be severe, bringing large hail. These gusty winds, combined with the dry air, will lead to dangerous fire weather conditions over the next 72 hours, though some rain is expected heading into the weekend.

Recommendations

Public Awareness: Residents are advised to be mindful of fire traffic, potential smoke impacts, and rapidly changing weather conditions. It is crucial to have an emergency plan in place, stay alert for potential evacuation orders, and clear dead brush from properties to reduce the risk of catastrophic fires.
Resource Allocation: Firefighters are working under challenging conditions, supported by multi-agency efforts and local volunteer fire departments. Agencies are actively training for increased fire risk, as seen with the recent National Guard aviation certifications, to ensure readiness for the summer season.

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: wildlandfire.sd.gov

Stay informed and prepared by monitoring these resources regularly.