South Dakota Ag Connection - Burn Permits Open in Black Hills Fire Protection District

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Burn Permits Open in Black Hills Fire Protection District
South Dakota Ag Connection - 12/12/2017

The South Dakota Department of Agriculture's Wildland Fire Division is now issuing burn permits within the Black Hills Forest Fire Protection District for the winter burning season.

The permits are only valid from the day the permit is obtained until March 31, 2018. They are also only valid for burning slash piles when there is continuous snow cover around the pile, the depth of the snow is at least 2 inches and winds are less than 15 mph at the burn site. Large slash piles require a minimum of 6 inches of continuous snow cover.

Residents within the Black Hills Forest Fire Protection District may apply for a burn permit, free of charge, online at http://sd.gov/burnpermits. The county and name of the local fire department, based on where the fire will be burned, are required for the permit. The burn permit system informs fire managers where burning activities are occurring, reducing the number of false runs to fires and saving firefighting resources for instances where they are truly needed. It also enables firefighters to respond more quickly to fires that escape.

Permittees are encouraged to closely monitor the weather during any burn activities. Weather fluctuations, such as sudden gusts of wind, could spark a wildfire. Local fire departments can provide updates on current weather information.

For more information and frequently asked questions, please visit the South Dakota Wildland Fire website at wildlandfire.sd.gov/burnpermits/burnpermits.aspx.

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