RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA News) – President Trump last week credited himself for returning the fireworks show to Mt. Rushmore, and queried why they had been cancelled, saying “no one seems to know why”….but many South Dakotans know why. It wasn’t that long ago that all kinds of activity throughout the Hills had been prohibited because of the fire danger created by miles of cured fuels, much of which was caused by the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation.

Ray Bubb, South Dakota Division of Wildland Fire fire management officer for the Rapid City office, talked about a sense of complacency because of all the rain and moisture.

Bubb said they will have officers on patrol, and people beware – you can be ticketed.

Bubb said the state fire meteorologist has predicted a lower chance of fire for the month of July, but expect things to change in August and September.

He said a small fire reported over the weekend by the Great Plains Fire Information office was started by a vehicle. He made those comments Tuesday on the Thursday FOCUS with KOTA Radio in Rapid City.