PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Wildland Fire (SDWF) is urging residents and visitors in western and southwestern South Dakota to exercise extreme caution Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, due to Critical Fire Weather conditions. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for the area, including communities in the Black Hills region such as Rapid City, Hot Springs, and Wall.
The combination of dry fire fuels, dry air, gusty winds, and forecast temperatures in the 80s to mid-90s creates an ideal environment for wildfires to start easily and spread rapidly, according to the SDWF. Other communities under the Red Flag Warning include Pine Ridge, Kadoka, and Faith.
SDWF advises avoiding any potential fire ignition sources throughout Friday. The public should not engage in outdoor burning or use tools that generate sparks. Additional precautions include avoiding digging with earth-moving equipment, dragging chains from trailers, throwing cigarette butts out of a vehicle window, and parking in high grass.
Fires under these conditions have the potential to spread quickly. If a wildland fire is spotted, officials urge the public to call 911 immediately.
For more information on fire prevention, visit https://wildlandfire.sd.gov/. This critical fire weather event impacts a large portion of western South Dakota.