South Dakota Fire Officials Warn Farmers About Wildfires

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) - Fire officials in South Dakota are urging ranchers and farmers to take precautions to prevent wildfires when harvesting.

The South Dakota Division of Wildland Fire Suppression says the warm, windy weather mixed with dry fuel conditions can cause fast-moving prairie fires.

Fire Division Director Jay Esperance says in a news release that the agency anticipates high to very high fire danger in the western half of the state. He says farmers and ranchers should have precautions in place to prevent prairie fires, like locating water tanks nearby and blowing chaff off combines to minimize fire potential.