Wildfire — Buffalo, South Dakota

2025-03-10 · Buffalo, South Dakota

Event narrative

Hand county emergency management responded to a wildfire notification by indicating that the Gann Valley Fire Department was on the scene of a fire that involved approximately 400-500 hay bales.

Wider weather episode

Continued mild and dry conditions in March would result in an expansion of drought and high fire danger conditions. Thankfully during this period of observed fires, winds remained relatively light aiding in containment. A fire on March 9th by Enemy Swim housing complex burned about 55 acres and also damaged powerlines. An additional fire was observed at that time on satellite in Buffalo county, with local emergency management responding that it was a fire that was consuming approximately 400-500 hay bales. On March 10th, a fire southwest of Aberdeen would also go on to burn about 135 acres in addition to engulfing approximately 500 hay bales.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1237286. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.