SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — Fire conditions are becoming dangerous in our area just as people gear up for the Fourth of July. That’s causing a dilemma for counties considering burn bans.
Lincoln and Turner counties have put bans in place, though Lincoln’s does not apply to fireworks.
Brandon Fire Chief Robert Dykstra spoke to the Minnehaha County Commission Tuesday in support of a burn ban. He said while many grasslands in the county appear green, that can be deceiving.
“In the last two weeks when we’ve responded to grass fires, what’s burning is green,” Dykstra said on behalf of the Minnehaha County Fire Chiefs Association. “And where there has been a fire, it is not growing back, at all.”
Commissioners were hesitant to enact a ban that would affect Fourth of July festivities and questioned whether the ban could be enforced.
“Even if we put the burn ban in, we’re going to have people shooting fireworks off nonstop, and I think we’re going to put additional stress on our law enforcement that are already working really hard to try to keep people safe from craziness and fireworks,” Commissioner Cindy Heiberger said. She added she’d rather wait and see if conditions improve and call a special meeting before the holiday if not.
The commission declined to enact a burn ban while encouraging people to exercise good judgment when using fireworks.
Fireworks are illegal in the Sioux Falls city limits, though sparklers and snakes are allowed. South Dakota state law allows fireworks from June 27 to July 5.
(Liz Ryan, KELO.com News, contributed to this report.)
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