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County declares temporary burn ban during dry conditions; later rescinds after conditions ease
Summary
Codington County declared an open-burning ban during a period of extreme dryness and heavy harvest activity, following recommendations from emergency management and local fire chiefs; commissioners later rescinded the ban after weather and local fire assessments improved.
Codington County commissioners temporarily banned open burning after emergency management and local fire officials warned of heightened wildfire risk during a very dry harvest season. Emergency Management Director Jim Sutton told the board that unusually dry conditions and high winds raised the risk of fires spreading rapidly during burning or harvest-related ignition.
Sheriff Toby Wishard and local fire chiefs supported the restriction and the board adopted a resolution declaring a fire danger emergency and prohibiting open burning in rural areas. County officials said the measure was intended to reduce the number of preventable wildfires during a period of increased risk.
After several weeks of cooler, wetter weather and a countywide assessment by fire officials, commissioners voted to lift the ban. The board and county emergency staff emphasized that residents and farmers should still take precautions during harvest and keep firefighting equipment available, and they encouraged notifying local fire departments before any controlled burn.
The board issued both the original ban (Resolution 2012-25) and its rescission (Resolution 2012-27) by recorded vote. The county’s sheriff and emergency management office will continue to monitor conditions and issue guidance as needed.
