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← Black Hills National Forest

Northern Hills Ranger District Fire Danger & Restrictions

Stage 2

Safety brief

Updated

Very high fire danger today.

The Lookout fire is active at 444 acres and is currently growing with 0% containment. Fire danger is very high in the Northern Hills Ranger District. Campfires are prohibited in both backcountry and campgrounds; only gas or liquid fuel stoves with a 3-foot clearance are permitted. Check current conditions and specific restrictions before your visit.

Restrictions

Campfires and Stoves

Equipment and Work

Shooting and Closures

Backcountry campfiresProhibited

Campfires prohibited in backcountry; only gas/liquid fuel stoves allowed with 3-foot clearance.

Conditions

  • Gas or liquid fuel stoves only
  • Must be in area barren or cleared of flammable materials within 3 feet

Exceptions

  • Persons with permit FS-7700-48
  • Federal, State, or Local Officers in official duty
  • Organized rescue or firefighting service in official duty
BKF-194-2026
Campground campfiresProhibited

Campfires prohibited in campgrounds; only gas/liquid fuel stoves allowed with 3-foot clearance.

Conditions

  • Gas or liquid fuel stoves only
  • Must be in area barren or cleared of flammable materials within 3 feet

Exceptions

  • Persons with permit FS-7700-48
  • Federal, State, or Local Officers in official duty
  • Organized rescue or firefighting service in official duty
BKF-194-2026
Propane fuel and camp stovesRestricted

Pressurized liquid or gas stoves allowed in area barren or cleared of flammable materials within 3 feet.

Conditions

  • Device must be solely fueled by liquid or gas
  • Must be able to turn on and off
  • Must be in area barren or cleared of all flammable materials within 3 feet of device
BKF-194-2026
Welding and grindingProhibited

Welding and acetylene torches with open flame prohibited.

Exceptions

  • Persons with permit FS-7700-48
  • Federal, State, or Local Officers in official duty
  • Organized rescue or firefighting service in official duty
BKF-194-2026
ExplosivesProhibited

Explosives prohibited.

Exceptions

  • Persons with permit FS-7700-48
  • Federal, State, or Local Officers in official duty
  • Organized rescue or firefighting service in official duty
BKF-194-2026

Restrictions last checked

Near-surface wildfire smoke forecast

Estimated AQI*

0max avg 0 µg/m³ around 8 PM

Good wildfire smoke

Next 24 hours

Forecast updated Sep 9, 2026, 6:59 PM

District average10th–90th percentile

* Estimated AQI is an equivalent interpretation of forecast wildfire-smoke PM2.5 only; it is not an observed or official AQI reading.

Hourly wildfire-smoke PM2.5 forecast across the district
Local timeDistrict averagep10p90Estimated AQI*Smoke category
Sep 9, 7:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Sep 9, 8:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Sep 9, 9:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Sep 9, 10:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Sep 9, 11:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Sep 10, 12:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Sep 10, 1:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Sep 10, 2:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Sep 10, 3:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Sep 10, 4:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Sep 10, 5:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Sep 10, 6:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Sep 10, 7:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Sep 10, 8:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Sep 10, 9:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Sep 10, 10:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Sep 10, 11:00 AM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Sep 10, 12:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Sep 10, 1:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Sep 10, 2:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Sep 10, 3:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Sep 10, 4:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Sep 10, 5:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke
Sep 10, 6:00 PM0 µg/m³0 µg/m³0 µg/m³Estimated AQI* ≈0Good wildfire smoke

* Estimated AQI is an equivalent interpretation of forecast wildfire-smoke PM2.5 only; it is not an observed or official AQI reading. HRRR forecasts near-ground smoke; district values are area-weighted, conditions vary by location, and other pollution sources are not included.

Check current observed air quality on AirNow (opens in a new tab)

Recent changes

30-day fire danger history

Last 30 days

Stable at Very High since Aug 11.

Open official source

Ratings and restrictions are collected from official source pages and may lag agency updates. Always confirm current fire restrictions, closures, evacuation notices, and emergency guidance with the responsible agency before starting a trip.

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