BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota State University Extension is partnering with the South Dakota Grassland Coalition, Natural Resources Conservation Service, The Nature Conservancy, Audubon Great Plains and landowner-led fire cooperatives to host a series of fire training workshops this spring.
The classroom workshops are on March 25 in Roscoe and March 26, 2025, in Mitchell, led by experienced prescribed burn practitioners from South Dakota organizations. The courses are from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. CDT. Walk-ins are welcome but registration is encouraged.
A combined classroom and live fire training session is from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CDT on April 8 by Lower Brule. It is hosted by the River Breaks Prescribed Burn Association and the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe. The River Breaks Prescribed Burn Association is comprised of landowners in the Lower Brule region who are using prescribed fire to manage grassland health and control invasive woody plants like cedar trees.
The RBPBA encourages any landowner or other interested party to attend the classroom session. Attendance at a classroom training is required for anyone who wishes to participate in the live-fire training event.
More information for each session is included below:
- Roscoe classroom session: 6-9 p.m. on March 25, Roscoe Fire Hall. To register, contact Jay Hermann at 605-880-3412 or Jason.Hermann@usda.gov.
- Mitchell classroom session: 6-9 p.m. on March 26, Blarney’s Bar and Grill. To register, contact Cody Grewing at 712-490-6720 or Cody.Grewing@audubon.org.
- Lower Brule classroom and live fire session: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on April 8 at the Lower Brule Wildlife Management Office, 2 miles north of the town of Lower Brule. To register, contact Sheldon Fletcher at 605-730-3314 or SheldonFletcher@gmail.com.
For more information, contact Pete Bauman, SDSU Extension Natural Resources and Wildlife Field Specialist or visit the SDSU Extension Events page and search “fire”.
