BOX ELDER — Fire officials and weather experts are urging residents across western South Dakota to use caution with fireworks this Fourth of July as dry and increasingly warm conditions raise wildfire risk.
National Weather Service Rapid City meteorologist David Hintz said southwestern South Dakota is experiencing severe to extreme drought conditions, increasing wildfire susceptibility.
“Conditions are pretty susceptible to wildfire and wildfire conditions,” Hintz said.
He said the region, which includes the Black Hills, Rapid City, Box Elder and prairies as far east as Wall, remains vulnerable due to dry fuels and weather conditions.
Hintz said residents should factor in wind and heat when using fireworks.
“Always be cognizant of what is going on around you,” he said. “Especially if we have wind that might be taking fireworks, or the remnants of fireworks, downwind into a dry grassy area or rangeland where there might be taller, uncured, drier grasses.”
He said wind can carry sparks farther than expected, increasing fire risk. Temperatures are also expected to rise into the mid-80s to lower 90s in the coming days, which will further dry out grasslands and increase fire danger.
Pennington County Fire Service Administrator Jerome Harvey said call volumes typically rise based on weather conditions, with increased fire and medical calls during dry periods and holidays.
Harvey said the department has been sharing firework safety information from the Consumer Product Safety Commission ahead of the holiday weekend.
“The promotional material is direct,” Harvey said, noting some injuries serve as a reminder of the dangers involved. “For some, it will be their last Fourth of July with their fingers.”
He said most firework injuries result from people standing too close to fireworks, lighting them improperly, or holding them while igniting them.
Burns and inhalation injuries are among the most common emergency calls during the holiday. Harvey said burns should be treated immediately with large amounts of water while waiting for first responders.
He added that many fire service agencies in South Dakota, including Pennington County, are volunteer-based. Departments often prepare for the holiday by scheduling activities at stations to keep volunteers available for emergency response.
“We have some kind of activity at stations to encourage members to be there, a cookout or something simple for their family,” Harvey said. “We do change our dispatching to help manage some of the issues that go on with fireworks.”
Harvey also encouraged residents to clean up fireworks debris and be mindful of where fireworks land.
He said organized fireworks displays offer a safer alternative and can be just as enjoyable.
For a list of area fireworks shows, visit the Pennington County Fire Administration website: https://www.pennco.org/law_public_safety/fire/firework_regulations.php.
