Firefighters in Lincoln County put out two fast moving grass fires in the past few days.This one about 3 miles south of Wild Water West burned hay bales and came close to burning horses and a home.

“Someone to the southeast here was doing some burning yesterday and it got out of hand for them,” said Lincoln County Emergency Manager, Harold Timmerman.

Timmerman says the dry conditions and wind are creating extremely dangerous conditions. We just had snow last week, you would think the grass would be at least a little bit wet, but it is dry and crunchy.

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“If it gets in a road ditch right now, behind you here there is one that hasn’t been mowed or anything it will burn through there and we will get ten-foot flames. And it can travel a half mile so quick you can’t believe it, said Timmerman.

The South Dakota Grassland Fire Danger is rated at “very high” today and a good portion of the state shown in red is in extreme condition tomorrow. Timmerman says until we get snow or heavy rain, no one should be doing any outdoor burning at all.

“Just to be extremely careful with any kind of fire , even if you throw a cigarette out and it gets in these ditches it will start a fire,” said Timmerman. “Do not do any burning this after noon I don’t care what it is, because we’ve got all Volunteer Fire Departments in Lincoln County and they are taking time away form their work to come out a fight these fires.”