Dry conditions fuel fires near Colman, Flandreau

Firefighters in Moody County faced a challenging Saturday as multiple fires ignited along rural roads, keeping crews from Colman, Flandreau, Trent, and Wentworth busy throughout the day.
Flandreau Fire Chief Don Peters summed it up: It was a long day.
Of the several fires reported, only one was a planned controlled burn that got out of hand. The others flared up in dry conditions, including one west of Colman in slough CRP ground, another northwest of the city, and a third northwest of Flandreau.
Peters noted that despite some greening, the area remains dangerously dry.
Its still really dry, things are starting to green so hopefully it slows down, but its not good out there right now, he said.
The ongoing road construction on Highway 34 near Colman has led more drivers to take backroads, which may have contributed to the weekends fires. Increased traffic on these rural routes raises the risk of accidental ignitions from vehicle exhausts or discarded cigarettes.
Moody County continues to experience severe drought conditions, with the U.S. Drought Monitor reporting that 100% of South Dakota is affected by drought.
The National Weather Service has issued fire weather watches for parts of the state, highlighting the risk of rapid fire spread due to dry conditions and gusty winds.
Residents are urged to avoid open burning and exercise caution with any activities that could spark a fire. Even a small ember can quickly lead to a dangerous situation under current conditions.