The Associated Press
The Bismarck Tribune
Copyright 2007 The Bismarck Tribune, a division of Lee Enterprises
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RAPID CITY, S.D. — Fire officials in South Dakota are planning for another active fire season, especially if the area doesn’t get enough spring moisture to combat drought conditions.
“We’re going to monitor all the spring moisture, and we’ll make some more decisions,” said Joe Lowe, South Dakota wildland fire coordinator. “But we’re looking at that drought not improving.”
Lowe said that although special preparations haven’t been made yet, the fire division is ready to bring in whatever resources are necessary.
State fire meteorologist Randall Benson said although precipitation will be normal or below normal, he predicts that temperatures from June to August will be cooler. That could help reduce the fire danger, he said.
Benson uses a formula he bases on certain factors he observes in the fall, but he emphasized that predictions are hard to make this far in advance.
“Based on this outlook, the fire season may not be as busy,” he said. “It doesn’t appear to be, at this point.”
Fire information officer Beth Hermanson said it’s too early to tell what the fire season will be like.
“Last year at this time, we were thinking we’d have a severe fire season. We also got some spring moisture that delayed the fire season a month,” she said. “It’s just way too early to tell.”
Lowe said he’s been talking on a weekly basis with Todd Pachota, acting fire manager of the Black Hills National Forest. In a change for this year, single engine air tankers will be flying out of Rapid City Regional Airport instead of Custer, he said.