RAPID CITY, S.D. — The South Dakota Department of Agriculture’s Wildland Fire Division is urging landowners, who have recently burned slash piles, to be vigilant about monitoring them to ensure that they have been completely extinguished. Smoldering material may continue to burn days after ignition.

“We have issued a lot of burn permits in the last week. The probability of ignition is going to increase with the predicted warmer weather; it could result in some piles escaping,” stated assistant chief of operations Jim Burk.

For more information and frequently asked questions, please visit the South Dakota Wildland Fire website at http://wildlandfire.sd.gov/burnpermits/burnpermits.aspx. South Dakota Wildland Fire can be found on Twitter and Facebook.

Agriculture is a major contributor to South Dakota’s economy, generating $25.6 billion in annual economic activity and employing over 115,000 South Dakotans. The South Dakota Department of Agriculture’s mission is to promote, protect and preserve this industry for today and tomorrow. Visit us online at http://sdda.sd.gov or find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

— South Dakota Department of Agriculture

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