Ban on Campfires in Black Hills to Continue

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) – A ban on campfires in the Black Hills of western South Dakota will continue despite recent rain and cooler temperatures.

The Rapid City Journal reports that owners of some private campsites say the ban is hurting business. But fire officials say there is still a high risk of wildfires in the region.

Jim Strain with the state Division of Wildland Fire Suppression says it will take a couple of inches of rain throughout the Black Hills to lower the fire danger. Black Hills National Forest official Todd Pechota says there is no relief in sight in the seven-day weather forecast.