South Dakota, 2025Wildfire in South Dakota, March 20, 2025
March 20, 2025 · NWS ABR · 2 events in 2 counties and zones
Departing high pressure created a stiff south breeze, with mild temperatures and low humidity. Drought conditions continued well into the month, and the combination of hot dry weather and dry fuels resulted in fires across north central and northeast South Dakota.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 2
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
Departing high pressure created a stiff south breeze, with mild temperatures and low humidity. Drought conditions continued well into the month, and the combination of hot dry weather and dry fuels resulted in fires across north central and northeast South Dakota. The largest of these fires was approximately 1285 acres, 3 miles west of Sunset Colony in Marshall county, while a 290 acre fire ignited near La Plant in Dewey county.
Wildfire, Marshall
- When
- March 20, 1:10 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
- Where
- Marshall forecast zone
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
- Coordinates
- 45.759, -97.598 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A fire developed in the afternoon 3 miles west of Sunset Colony at a nearby farmstead. The fire spread rapidly into a low marshy area with a large pond, burning mostly into an area designated as Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land. The Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) 2 miles north of Britton would record gusts of 35 mph that afternoon. The fire burned approximately 1285 acres.
Wildfire, Dewey
- When
- March 20, 2:00 PM CST to 7:30 PM CST
- Where
- Dewey forecast zone
- Reported by
- Fire Department/Rescue
- Coordinates
- 45.157, -100.872 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
A semi trailer with hay caught on fire east of LaPlant resulting in an approximately 290 acre burn that consumed mainly grassland. A peak wind gust of 25 mph was recorded at the nearby South Dakota Department of Transportation weather station.
- Wildfire
- A fire burning in wildland vegetation, with its acreage and damage where known.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
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NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1234737, 1237193.