Ban prompted by several area fires, including Garretson
On Tuesday, Minnehaha County Emergency Management placed a burn ban county-wide due to the dry conditions being experienced around the state.
Eastern South Dakota is under a moderate drought but the Grassland Fire Index is high, and fires are likely to start and spread quickly in the area.
"Volunteer Rural Fire agencies have responded to numerous grass fires in the month of March," wrote Minnehaha County Emergency Manager Jason Gearman. "Many of these fires were caused by open burns becoming out of control. This burn ban will be effective until Minnehaha County receives significant rainfall or the grassfire index changes. The Minnehaha County Commission, Rural Fire Chiefs and Emergency Management will monitor these conditions to determine when the burn ban should be rescinded."
Open burning within the rural areas of the county will not be allowed under this ordinance, and other burns must take place inside a container that prohibits the escape of sparks, flames, or hot ash from escaping. Any violations of this ban are a Class II Misdemeanor.
Fires in the area have been quite common lately. On Monday evening, a portion of Highway 11 by 255th Street was closed for a time for clean up as sparks from a blown tire caused a trailer to start on fire. No injuries were reported, but the driver was unable to release the trailer from the vehicle due to the amount of smoke. On Sunday, GFD responded to a fire off 248th and 483rd just northwest of Garretson for a backyard garbage burn that sparked and spread, damaging the yard but no structures nearby.
