Red flag warning triggers open burn ban in Hughes and Stanley counties; Fireworks included on list of things not allowed

When conditions are as extremely dry as they currently are in most of South Dakota, individual counties often issue an open burn ban for a certain period of time.

Hughes and Stanley counties handle the burn ban a little differently.

Rob Fines is the Emergency Management director for both counties. He says whether or not a burn ban is in effect is determined daily.

Fines gives some examples of what is and is not allowed when a burn ban is in effect.

Fines says Hughes and Stanley County residents can find a link to the Grassland Fire Danger map on the Hughes County website.

Again, a burn ban is automatically triggered in Stanley and Hughes counties whenever the National Weather Service Grassland Fire Danger Index is in the VERY HIGH or EXTREME category or has issued a RED FLAG WARNING for any portion of Hughes or Stanley County. The open burn ban is automatically suspended when the state Grassland Fire Danger Index decreases to the HIGH, MODERATE OR LOW categories or the RED FLAG WARNING has been canceled.

The current burn ban ordinance was implemented in 2016.

National Weather Service Aberdeen SD
103 PM CDT Fri Jul 2 2021

SDZ003-004-009-015-016-033>035-045-048-030200-
/O.CON.KABR.FW.W.0016.000000T0000Z-210703T0200Z/
Corson-Campbell-Walworth-Dewey-Potter-Stanley-Sully-Hughes-Jones-
Lyman-
103 PM CDT Fri Jul 2 2021 /1203 PM MDT Fri Jul 2 2021/

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/
THIS EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR CENTRAL AND
NORTH CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA...

* AFFECTED AREA...In South Dakota, Corson, Campbell, Walworth,
  Dewey, Potter, Stanley, Sully, Hughes, Jones and Lyman.

* WINDS...Southeast 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 20 percent.

* IMPACTS...These conditions are supportive of rapid fire growth.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.