2025 South Dakota wildfires: Difference between revisions

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While the spring and summer months are the primary fire seasons, wildfires can occur year-round in South Dakota. The state’s diverse landscapes and varying climatic conditions contribute to the potential for wildfires at any time. For instance, the [[Legion Lake Fire]] in 2017, which burned over 53,000 acres, occurred in December, demonstrating that fire risk persists beyond the traditional fire seasons.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lim |first1=Katrina |title=A look back at the Legion Lake Fire one year later |url=https://www.blackhillsfox.com/content/news/A-look-back-at-the-Legion-Lake-Fire-one-year-later-502522961.html |access-date=June 19, 2024 |work=[[KEVN]] |date=December 12, 2018}}</ref>

While the spring and summer months are the primary fire seasons, wildfires can occur year-round in South Dakota. The state’s diverse landscapes and varying climatic conditions contribute to the potential for wildfires at any time. For instance, the [[Legion Lake Fire]] in 2017, which burned over 53,000 acres, occurred in December, demonstrating that fire risk persists beyond the traditional fire seasons.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lim |first1=Katrina |title=A look back at the Legion Lake Fire one year later |url=https://www.blackhillsfox.com/content/news/A-look-back-at-the-Legion-Lake-Fire-one-year-later-502522961.html |access-date=June 19, 2024 |work=[[KEVN]] |date=December 12, 2018}}</ref>

== Summary ==

South Dakota’s wildfire season in 2025 has remained relatively moderate so far, with occasional large fires in [[grassland]] and tribal-reservation areas. <ref>{{cite web |title=War Creek – Wildfire and Smoke Mao |url=https://data.usatoday.com/fires/war-creek/57b982eb-0034-473a-af2c-02e24e8a2338/ |access-date=July 27, 2025 |website=data.usatoday.com}}</ref>

One of the largest fires this year is the Route 13 Fire in [[Ziebach County]], which burned about 33,928 acres after three individual fires merged. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Route 13 Fire Map |url=https://app.watchduty.org/i/43413 |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=Watch Duty |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=2025-Route 13 Fire-SDCRA |url=https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/sdcra-2025route-13-firesdcra |website=InciWeb |access-date=May 31, 2025}}</ref>

Other significant wildfires include the South Tripp Fire in Tripp County (~1,288 acres) and the War Creek Fire in Jones County (~2,602 acres). <ref>{{cite web |title=War Creek – Wildfire and Smoke Mao |url=https://data.usatoday.com/fires/war-creek/57b982eb-0034-473a-af2c-02e24e8a2338/ |access-date=July 27, 2025 |website=data.usatoday.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=South Tripp Fire Map|url=https://app.watchduty.org/i/43767 |access-date=2025-03-14 |website=Watch Duty |language=en}}</ref>

Smoke from regional fires and distant fires (including [[2025 Canadian wildfires|Canadian wildfires]]) has periodically affected [[air quality]] in parts of eastern South Dakota and the [[Black Hills]] region. <ref>{{cite news |title=Thousands evacuated in 3 provinces as Canadian wildfires threaten air quality into some U.S. states |url=https://apnews.com/article/b1a37dac81acd22d549a9c8e331e0291 |access-date=October 5, 2025}}</ref>

In western South Dakota, [[Red Flag Warning]]s have been issued under hot, dry, and windy conditions, reminding that fire danger is still present even late in the season. <ref>{{cite web |title=Red Flag Warnings: What western South Dakotans should know |url=https://www.kotatv.com/2025/10/04/red-flag-warnings-what-western-south-dakotans-should-know/ |access-date=October 5, 2025}}</ref>

Because the season is still active, especially in [[grass]] and [[prairie]] fuels, additional ignitions and fire growth remain possible—particularly during dry, windy spells or under low-[[humidity]], gusty conditions.

==List of wildfires==

==List of wildfires==

Latest revision as of 06:33, 14 October 2025

Natural disasters in the USA

2025 South Dakota wildfires

The 2025 South Dakota wildfires are a series of active wildfires currently ongoing in South Dakota.

South Dakota Drought Monitor at its peak on March 25, 2025

Spring in South Dakota is marked by increasing temperatures and decreasing humidity, creating favorable conditions for wildfires. The Grassland Fire Danger Index is issued daily during this period, indicating elevated fire risk. The Black Hills National Forest also experiences increased fire activity during these months. Notably, the 2000 Jasper Fire—the largest wildfire in South Dakota’s history—occurred during this season.[1]

From June through August, warmer temperatures and potential Drought conditions increase, further increasing fire risk. The Black Hills National Forest continues to experience heightened fire activity during this period.[2] The White Draw Fire in 2012, which resulted in the tragic loss of four lives due to a firefighting aircraft crash, occurred in June, highlighting the dangers associated with summer wildfires.[3]

Year-Round Fire Potential

[edit]

While the spring and summer months are the primary fire seasons, wildfires can occur year-round in South Dakota. The state’s diverse landscapes and varying climatic conditions contribute to the potential for wildfires at any time. For instance, the Legion Lake Fire in 2017, which burned over 53,000 acres, occurred in December, demonstrating that fire risk persists beyond the traditional fire seasons.[4]

South Dakota’s wildfire season in 2025 has remained relatively moderate so far, with occasional large fires in grassland and tribal-reservation areas. [5]

One of the largest fires this year is the Route 13 Fire in Ziebach County, which burned about 33,928 acres after three individual fires merged. [6][7]
Other significant wildfires include the South Tripp Fire in Tripp County (~1,288 acres) and the War Creek Fire in Jones County (~2,602 acres). [8][9]

Smoke from regional fires and distant fires (including Canadian wildfires) has periodically affected air quality in parts of eastern South Dakota and the Black Hills region. [10]

In western South Dakota, Red Flag Warnings have been issued under hot, dry, and windy conditions, reminding that fire danger is still present even late in the season. [11]

Because the season is still active, especially in grass and prairie fuels, additional ignitions and fire growth remain possible—particularly during dry, windy spells or under low-humidity, gusty conditions.

The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), produced significant structural damage, or resulted in casualties.

Map

Perimeters of wildfires in South Dakota during 2025 (Red: >1000 acres) (map data)
  1. ^ Containment means that fire crews have established and secured control lines around the fire’s perimeter. These lines are artificial barriers, like trenches or cleared vegetation, designed to stop the fire’s spread, or natural barriers like rivers. Containment reflects progress in managing the fire but does not necessarily mean the fire is starved of fuel, under control, or put out.[12]
  1. ^ O’Bryan, Miranda (August 24, 2020). “20th anniversary of largest wildfire in South Dakota history”. KOTA-TV. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  2. ^ Peters, Gerhard; Woolley, John T. “Grover Cleveland: “Proclamation 392 – Withdrawal of Lands for the Black Hills Forest Reserve, South Dakota,” February 22, 1897″. The American Presidency Project. University of California – Santa Barbara.
  3. ^ “SD fire slows, but toll includes tanker crash”. The Denver Post. Associated Press. July 2, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  4. ^ Lim, Katrina (December 12, 2018). “A look back at the Legion Lake Fire one year later”. KEVN. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  5. ^ “War Creek – Wildfire and Smoke Mao”. data.usatoday.com. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  6. ^ “Route 13 Fire Map”. Watch Duty. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
  7. ^ “2025-Route 13 Fire-SDCRA”. InciWeb. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  8. ^ “War Creek – Wildfire and Smoke Mao”. data.usatoday.com. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  9. ^ “South Tripp Fire Map”. Watch Duty. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  10. ^ “Thousands evacuated in 3 provinces as Canadian wildfires threaten air quality into some U.S. states”. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  11. ^ “Red Flag Warnings: What western South Dakotans should know”. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  12. ^ “What containment and other wildfire related terms mean”. Los Angeles: KCAL-TV. September 12, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  13. ^ “Route 13 Fire Map”. Watch Duty. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
  14. ^ “2025-Route 13 Fire-SDCRA”. InciWeb. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  15. ^ “South Tripp Fire Map”. Watch Duty. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  16. ^ “War Creek – Wildfire and Smoke Mao”. data.usatoday.com. Retrieved July 27, 2025.

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