March 24, 2026 - Special Mtg-Burn Ban
STANLEY COUNTY COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
MARCH 24, 2026
The special meeting of the Stanley County Commission was called to order at 5:00 p.m. (CT) by Chairman Iversen, with Commissioners Mike Kenzy, Sonny Harrowa, Craig Heller, and Gary Grittner present. Also present was Emergency Manager Dustin Baxter, Fort Pierre Fire Department Chief John Meligan, and Auditor Philena Burtch. The meeting commenced with the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
AGENDA: Motion by Sonny Harrowa, second by Mike Kenzy, to approve the Agenda. All voted Aye. Motion Carried.
Resolution 2026-09 Burn Ban: Emergency Manager Dustin Baxter explained to the Commission that the dry fuels are leading to extreme rates of fire spread and fire behavior not typically seen in March. A widespread snow drought across the affected region has led to cured grass fuels. These fuels remain vertically oriented which allows for faster rates of fire spread. Warmer than average and windier than average conditions since mid-December has led to flash drought conditions, low soil moisture, and very low dead fuel moisture across all time-lag categories. The upper-level ridge that has led to historic temperatures across the western US will begin to break down which could bring further high wind events to the driest areas. Much of the region has seen less than 50% of its average 90-day precipitation along with much above average temperatures. Several wildfires in Nebraska grew in excess of 100,000 acres, while the Custer, SD wildfire exhibited group tree torching and crown runs in Ponderosa Pine.
Motion by Gary Grittner, second by Craig Heller, to approve Resolution 2026-09 Burn Ban, to go into effect March 26, 2026, until fire conditions improve and the Commission takes action to remove the ban. All voted Aye. Motion Carried.
RESOLUTION 2026-09
BURN BAN
WHEREAS, Stanley County has Ordinance No. 2016-01 FOR THE REGULATION OF FIRE HAZARDS IN STANLEY COUNTY; and
WHEREAS, Stanley County has a substantial amount of remaining vegetation this spring, increasing the potential fuel for a fire; and
WHEREAS, Stanley County is currently experiencing dry conditions due to insufficient moisture during the winter and extending into spring. These circumstances, coupled with ongoing weather patterns, have resulted in the County being under a burn ban by Ordinance No. 2016-01 for more than one day in a row. Additionally, neighboring counties' conditions are similar to ours, thereby increasing the risk of significant, rapidly spreading fires that could impact Stanley County.
WHEREAS, Stanley County is aware of several recent large wildfires in the western half of the state and in Nebraska; and
WHEREAS, Stanley County is aware that the number of state and federal resources available in the state to assist with wildfires is limited because of the current fires in South Dakota and Nebraska; and
WHEREAS, Stanley County is dedicated to taking steps to protect the health and safety of all residents of the County and all property within the County, and
WHEREAS, the Stanley County Commission has consulted with local fire officials and law enforcement officials in regard to the severity of this issue; and
WHEREAS, for purposes of this Resolution, “open burning’ shall be defined as any outdoor fire, including but not limited to campfires, warming fires, charcoal grill fires, or the prescribed burning of fence rows, fields, wild lands, trash, and debris. Fireworks will also be considered open burning and be banned by this resolution. This resolution excludes fires contained within liquid-fueled or gas-fueled stoves, fireplaces within all buildings, charcoal grills and fire pits at private residences, burn barrels with a minimum 30-foot clear zone, and permanent fire pits or fire grates located on supervised developed picnic grounds and campgrounds.
WHEREAS, burn barrels, fire pits, or fire grates are not excluded from this Resolution as listed above and are banned when a “Red Flag” or “Extreme Fire Danger” is issued by the National Weather Service for Stanley County; and
WHEREAS, conditions of extreme fire hazard now exist in Stanley County;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Stanley County Commission enact this resolution on an emergency basis and impose a ban to prohibit or restrict open burning in order to protect the public health and safety pursuant to South Dakota Codified Law 7-8-20(18); and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the burn ban will be effective 8:00 A.M., March 26th, 2026; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED that the ban will be in place until fire conditions improve and the Commission takes action to remove the ban.
Dated this 24th day of March 2026.
ATTEST:
Philena Burtch, Auditor Dana Iversen, Chairman
ADJOURN: Motion by Mike Kenzy, second by Craig Heller, to adjourn at 5:21 P.M. All voted Aye. Motion Carried.
ATTEST: BOARD OF STANLEY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
(SEAL)
Philena Burtch, Auditor Dana Iversen, Chairman