RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Drought conditions continue throughout much of Western South Dakota, coupled with high winds that make the risk for wildlands fire that much more pressing.

Rapid City Fire Department Public Information Officer Tessa Jaeger says the public needs to take caution in coming days.

Jaeger said with the conditions present, luck has been the only reason no serious fires have struck the area.

While not all fires are human caused, Jaeger made sure to note tools and equipment that run high fire risk.

Forest and grassland management has been crucial to preventing fires in the area, though even with proper management the right conditions could spark a major fire event.