BLACK HILLS, S.D. – As heating season begins across western South Dakota, fire officials are reminding homeowners to use extreme caution when disposing of wood stove and fireplace ashes. Improper ash disposal causes numerous house fires and wildfires each year, often because hidden embers can remain hot and smolder for several days.
Officials recommend placing ashes in a metal container with a tight-fitting lid and storing the bucket outdoors on a non-combustible surface such as concrete, gravel, or dirt. Residents should allow ashes to cool for at least 24 to 72 hours before disposal.
South Dakota Wildland Fire District Program Manager Mike Reed says homeowners should give ashes one to three days to cool, then stir and inspect them to ensure no heat or hot embers remain before spreading them out or disposing of them.
Fire officials also warn against placing ashes in plastic trash cans or dumping them onto brush piles, both of which can quickly lead to accidental fires. While recent moisture has lowered fire danger, warm and windy conditions can rapidly dry vegetation, increasing the risk of ignition.
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