With the holiday season approaching, 120 fire enthusiasts descended on the town of Chamberlain in south-central South Dakota for the state’s first fire forum. Attendees ranged from landowners, resource professionals, lawmakers, and volunteer fire department members. Prescribed fire, and more specifically, who can use it and where, has been a hot-button issue in the region as of late. Though slated as an event around the use of prescribed fire, the necessity of the event is closely tied to the looming issue of juniper encroachment on grasslands. Due to a combination of seed dispersal from maturing tree plantings and long-term fire suppression, historically open grasslands in the eastern and southern portions of the state are transitioning to low-diversity coniferous forests. Though the use of prescribed fire is not widespread throughout the Great Plains, in some areas where it is regionally common, prescribed fire has proven to be effective and economically viable when used by landowners and managers to tackle woody encroachment.

The forum opened with landowner and former NRCS State Conservationist Jeff Zimprich testifying to the value of using prescribed fire on his property and the benefits of the South Dakota Rx fire schools. The first session of the day was dedicated to fire law and liability. Many attendees were surprised to find that South Dakota’s laws could be interpreted as being fire-friendly compared to those of neighboring states. Next, local agencies and organizations gave updates about current and upcoming financial and technical assistance options for private landowners. A subsequent panel session fielded questions from the audience, ranging from fire effects on nesting birds to the consequences should fire not remain a tool readily available on private lands in the state.

The second half of the forum was devoted to success stories and case studies using prescribed fire outside the state. Brian Teeter, Fire Coordinator with Pheasants Forever in Nebraska, spoke about the evolution of private land fire use in Nebraska. Brian also went in-depth on the formation of their landowner-led Prescribed Fire Council and its success in advocating for practical fire policy in the state. Renowned fire expert John Weir from Oklahoma State University Extension shared his experiences forming prescribed burn associations in Texas and Oklahoma and challenging paradigms regarding the use of fire on rangelands.

Though the forum had a strong slate of informative speakers and topics, perhaps the most common takeaway for attendees was the opportunity to network during breaks with fellow fire supporters. At the close of the event, an air of optimism remained in the room as organizers disassembled displays and reorganized tables and chairs. The common reaction to the event? Momentum.