Black Hills counties want right to ban fireworks

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RAPID CITY (AP) — Fourteen counties in and around the Black Hills have agreed to push for legislation that gives counties the option to ban fireworks.

The Black Hills Association of County Commissioners passed a resolution that says counties with property in the National Forest, National Grassland or within the Black Hills Fire District should have the ability to ban fireworks, the media reported.

The proposal now moves to the South Dakota Association of County Commissioners convention on Sept 17-19. It could then get sponsored by a lawmaker for the next legislative session.

Pennington County Commissioner Ron Buskerud said it will be a challenge to get legislation approved.

"It's got a long, long way to go before it will ever become a law," Buskerud said. "The fireworks (industry) has a very strong lobby and it will be a fight if it gets to Pierre."

All government agencies in the Black Hills region banned fireworks on July 4 due to extreme fire danger.

Municipalities can ban the use and sale of fireworks but county governments can only ban fireworks if the fire index reaches "extreme."

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