Noem's Executive Order Targets Black Hills Wildfire Threats

PIERRE, S.D. — Governor Kristi Noem signed Executive Order 2025-03, directing state agencies to launch controlled burns and upgrade infrastructure aimed at curbing wildfire dangers in the Black Hills National Forest, one of the nation's most heavily trafficked wooded areas. The order responds to persistent threats in the wildland-urban interface, where communities like Rapid City, Custer and Hill City border dense pine forests vulnerable to rapid fire spread. Noem emphasized the need for immediate action amid drier conditions and heightened human activity in the region.

Key directives include expanded prescribed fires to reduce fuel loads and enhancements to roads, water systems and communication networks critical for firefighting access. The Black Hills, spanning roughly 1.2 million acres, saw over 100 wildfires in 2024 alone, scorching thousands of acres and threatening homes and tourism hubs. State officials project the measures could prevent losses exceeding $50 million annually, drawing on lessons from past blazes like the 2021 Jasper Fire revival.

The executive action aligns with federal momentum, including President Trump's June 12, 2025, order promoting prescribed burns and streamlined regulations nationwide. South Dakota's Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, alongside the Game, Fish and Parks, will lead implementation, partnering with the U.S. Forest Service. Local stakeholders, including Black Hills Energy's vegetation management efforts, hailed the move as a vital step for resilience.

With implementation deadlines set for late 2025, Noem's order positions South Dakota at the forefront of wildfire mitigation, safeguarding its iconic Black Hills landscape and 150,000 residents in the vicinity.