RCFD: grass fires nearly doubled in 2024; governor wants fireworks anyway

This week the Rapid City Fire Department announced it responded to more than 250 fire calls in 2024, reported a 92% increase in blazes where flashy one hour fuels were involved and is concerned 2025 will be worse. 

The late Bill Gabbert worked as a wildland firefighter in California for twenty years before retiring in the Black Hills where he wrote as an expert on wildland fire. Using metrics that measure the probability of ignition or PI he took a firm stand on the risk of wildfire starts after a return of pyrotechnics to Mount Rushmore National Memorial where he was Fire Management Officer for four years. 

Recall that during President Barack Obama's first term fireworks were banned at Six Grandfathers because of repeated wildfire starts during red flag conditions and residual chemicals leaching into groundwater supplies. Former Superintendent Cheryle Schreier fled the Park Service and retired after criticism for her outspoken opinion on the rockets at Rushmore in the occupied Black Hills saying she spoke out for the right reasons.

Now the Trump Organization is threatening the French and Battle Creek watersheds again. So, in post-truth South Dakota the new governor has invited a convicted felon who is leading a treasonous autogolpe to soil the land of Black Elk after North Dakota's former governor suspends disbelief for Independence Day.