Some locations in the Northern Hills received more than seven inches of rain when large storms swept across the area last week. Although the storm brought inconveniences like muddy roads and bulging retaining walls, vegetation is greening up. All that rain helps bring the fire danger down.
Officials say the recent storms did just that. Bonnie Jones is a Recreation Specialist on the Northern Hills Ranger district out of Spearfish.
“Fire danger is actually down quite a bit this year compared to this time last year. Last year at this point we were already starting to have some small fires and this year that doesn’t look like that’s going to be a problem. It’s probably going to put the fire danger into a category where it would be low to moderate for a little while, until things heat up,” says Jones.
Jones says overall Northern Hill’s forests appear healthy. She says that pine tree sap is beginning to flow and the rain came at a time of year that is particularly beneficial to pine tree regeneration. Jones adds that many creek beds in Spearfish Canyon that are usually dry are currently flowing.