Live fire restrictions & Red Flag Warnings · National Weather Service
🔴 Red Flag Warning
Critical fire weather — extreme danger, high winds, low humidity. Burning is typically banned statewide and by county.
🟠 Fire Weather Watch
Dangerous conditions developing within 24–72 hrs. Monitor for upgrade to Red Flag Warning and imminent restrictions.
⚠️ County bans may differ
South Dakota county burn bans and USFS Stage 1–3 restrictions are separate — always confirm with your local fire authority.
Checking South Dakota fire-weather alerts…
The NWS map above shows fire-weather alerts — for the legally binding burn ban status, go directly to the official South Dakota source:
SD Wildland FireBurn permits & fire dangerOpen official source ↗Also check your county government website — a county burn ban can be in effect even when South Dakota has no statewide restriction.
🚫 Prohibited
✓ Usually Still Allowed
Always confirm with the issuing agency — specific orders vary.
County burn bans in South Dakota are issued separately from state-level restrictions — a county can be under a burn ban even when the rest of the state is not. County commissioners, the county fire marshal, or the county judge typically issue these orders, and they are not reflected in NWS alerts shown on the map above.
The South Dakota Department of Public Safety Wildland Fire Division publishes burn permit information and fire danger resources. Individual county burn bans are declared by county commissioners and tracked through county emergency management offices; the SD Wildland Fire Division coordinates statewide fire danger through the National Weather Service Grassland Fire Danger Index.
South Dakota County Burn Bans — SD Wildland Fire / DPSView county map ↗Federal land managers use a tiered system that escalates as fire danger increases. Stage restrictions apply only to the land they are issued for — your county may have a separate burn ban on private land.
Open burning prohibited. Campfires may still be allowed in designated fire rings at developed campgrounds. Portable gas and pressurized-liquid stoves are typically allowed in cleared areas.
All open fires prohibited — including campfires in developed campgrounds. Gas stoves may be allowed in cleared areas. Chainsaw use and motorized off-road vehicles restricted.
Maximum restriction before full closure. All fires may be prohibited. Motorized vehicle use off designated roads, shooting, and spark-producing tools are typically banned.
State or county-level complete ban on all open burning — campfires, burn barrels, brush and agricultural burning. Gas and propane grills for cooking are usually still allowed.
Area is fully closed — no public access or fire-related activity of any kind is permitted.
Typically equivalent to Stage 1. Open burning prohibited; campfires in developed campgrounds may still be allowed. Common on BLM land in NV, OR, and ID.
Agency-specific restriction with unique terms. Always read the specific order from the issuing land management office — scope varies significantly.
Oregon ODF Industrial Fire Precaution Level — applies to industrial operations (logging, equipment) on ODF-protected state and private forestland. IFPL I is the lowest level; IFPL IV is the most restrictive. Separate from USFS campfire restrictions.
Restriction scope and exact prohibitions vary by agency and order. Always confirm with the issuing land management office or visit the official source linked above.
Within the Black Hills Forest Fire Protection District, a free online burn permit is required from November 1 through March 31. Permits are obtained at apps.sd.gov/ag73burnpermit and are valid only when continuous snow cover is present (minimum 2 inches for small slash piles, 6 inches for large piles). Permit holders must notify their local dispatch center on the day of ignition. Outside the Black Hills District, open burning rules are governed by county ordinances and the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources air quality guidelines.
Get South Dakota burning permit ↗Or call the South Dakota forestry hotline: 605-393-8011
South Dakota's grassland fire season runs from April 1 through November 15, with peak danger in spring (March–May) when dormant vegetation and strong Great Plains winds combine before green-up. The western plains and Black Hills foothills see the most extreme conditions, though eastern prairie counties face significant grass fire risk throughout spring and into summer drought periods.
Statewide or regional burn bans and open-burning suspensions on state and private land.
County-wide burn bans — the level that most often affects homeowners and is easy to miss.
Stage 1–3 fire restrictions and closures on national forests, parks, and other federal land.
Municipal open-burning rules, fireworks bans, and local red-flag restrictions.
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The live map and status strip above show active Red Flag Warnings and Fire Weather Watches from the National Weather Service for South Dakota. For the legally binding answer, check the official South Dakota source: SD Wildland Fire at https://wildlandfire.sd.gov/. Also confirm with your county — a county burn ban can be in effect even when no statewide restriction exists.
During an active burn ban, South Dakota prohibits: All open burning when the NWS Grassland Fire Danger Index reaches HIGH, VERY HIGH, or EXTREME; All open burning during any active Red Flag Warning; Burning in burn barrels when Grassland Fire Danger Rating is Very High or Extreme; Fireworks during declared burn ban periods; Agricultural field burning without burn ban exception or permit; Campfires outside designated campgrounds when bans are in effect; Burning of solid waste, garbage, and construction debris at any time under air quality rules. Typically still allowed: Cooking using petroleum-fueled or charcoal briquette grills (explicitly exempted under most county ban ordinances); Interior fireplaces and enclosed wood-burning stoves; Campfires within designated campgrounds (subject to local rules); Burning in approved containers that fully contain flames, sparks, and hot ashes. Always verify the specific order with SD Wildland Fire — prohibited activities can vary by jurisdiction and restriction level.
Gas and propane grills used for cooking on private residential property are typically allowed during a South Dakota burn ban. Charcoal grills may be permitted in calm conditions but check the specific order. Wood-fired grills, outdoor fire pits, and campfires are usually prohibited. Always verify with SD Wildland Fire before lighting anything.
Multiple authorities can issue burn bans in South Dakota independently: SD Wildland Fire for statewide or regional orders; County Board of Commissioners (acting through the county Emergency Manager, who may declare a Fire Danger Emergency by resolution) for county-wide bans that affect most homeowners; federal land managers (U.S. Forest Service, BLM, NPS) for Stage 1–3 restrictions on federal land; and cities or local fire districts for additional local rules. A county burn ban can be active even with no statewide restriction — always check both.
Burn bans in South Dakota have no fixed duration — they are issued when fire danger is high and lifted when conditions improve, which can happen overnight or persist for weeks during drought. Red Flag Warnings from the NWS typically last 24–48 hours. State and county burn bans are lifted separately. Check the issuing agency daily during dry, windy conditions.
South Dakota's grassland fire season runs from April 1 through November 15, with peak danger in spring (March–May) when dormant vegetation and strong Great Plains winds combine before green-up. The western plains and Black Hills foothills see the most extreme conditions, though eastern prairie counties face significant grass fire risk throughout spring and into summer drought periods.
Within the Black Hills Forest Fire Protection District, a free online burn permit is required from November 1 through March 31. Permits are obtained at apps.sd.gov/ag73burnpermit and are valid only when continuous snow cover is present (minimum 2 inches for small slash piles, 6 inches for large piles). Permit holders must notify their local dispatch center on the day of ignition. Outside the Black Hills District, open burning rules are governed by county ordinances and the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources air quality guidelines.
Violating a South Dakota burn ban can result in: Violating a county burn ban ordinance: Class 2 misdemeanor — up to 30 days in jail and up to $500 fine per violation; Failure to control or report a dangerous fire: Class 1 misdemeanor — up to 1 year in jail and up to $2,000 fine; Reckless burning or exploding: Class 4 felony — up to 2 years in prison and up to $4,000 fine under SDCL 22-33-9.3; Civil liability for fire suppression costs if burn escapes control.
Sign up for free FireRisk.ai fire alerts below — we'll notify you when the NWS issues a Red Flag Warning for your area of South Dakota. For county burn ban alerts, register with your county emergency management system (Nixle, Everbridge, or your county's sign-up page). Monitor SD Wildland Fire at https://wildlandfire.sd.gov/ for statewide orders.
FireRisk.ai aggregates live fire-weather alerts from the National Weather Service and links to official South Dakota agency sources. Burn ban status changes daily — always confirm with the official source and your county before any outdoor burning. This page is for awareness only and is not an official or legal notice. For fire emergencies call 911.
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