On the heels of two area fires and a Fire Weather Watch issued by the National Weather Service, Jerauld County Commissioners issued a burn ban for the county effective immediately.
Monday evening, Wessington Springs Volunteer Fire Department and Gann Valley Fire Department responded to a large grass fire in Buffalo County near the intersection of SD Highway 50 and SD Highway 34. The two fire departments were activated as part of a sweeping multi-agency effort to extinguish the blaze that spanned approximately 2400 acres.
Also on Monday, Plankinton Volunteer Fire Department along with mutual aid from other agencies, responded to a large field fire on the west side of town.
Tuesday morning, The National Weather Service issued a Fire Weather Watch for Jerauld County and surrounding areas due to wind and low relative humidity.
WSVFD Fire Chief Jim Vavra reminds residents to be mindful of outdoor activity and to call 911 if there is an emergency.
Open burning is defined as an outdoor fire, including but not limited to campfires, warming fires, charcoal grill fires, fireworks or the burning of fence rows, fields, wild lands, trash and debris. This ban excludes fires contained within liquid fueled or gas fueled stoves, fireplaces within all buildings, charcoal grill fires at private residences and permanent fire pits or fire grates located on supervised developed picnic grounds and campgrounds. The burn ban is in effect until further notice.
