Rapid City Fire Department sees fewer Independence Day fire calls this year

RAPID CITY, S.D. — Rapid City Fire Department says firework-related calls were down this year.

Rapid City Fire says 174 calls came in during the holiday weekend, down from the last two years when they would receive over 200 calls each year.

Firefighters believe the amount of rain the Black Hills has received was the main factor in why there were fewer calls this year.

“We’ve received some moisture over the last few afternoons, which helped minimize some of that fire danger and keep some of those fires that did occur smaller in nature,” Fire Operations Division Chief Brian Povandra stated. “But things will dry out very quickly. We are still in drought conditions in the western part of the state and the Black Hills”

While South Dakota law allows residents to use fireworks until July 10, Povandra urges users to be mindful of discarding their fireworks appropriately and to always keep a bucket of water with you to soak them before throwing them in the trash.