Platte Volunteer Fire Department

12/14/2025

LeRoy Severson, one of our own here at Summit, has a heart of gold and a personality that leaves everyone smiling. This Sunday, join us at the Platte Community Building for a lunch and silent auction to help defray medical expenses.

LeRoy’s been a steady presence on job sites and in conversations, always quick with a joke and willing to lend a hand. Now’s our chance to return the favor.

Free will donation | Silent auction | Great cause for a great guy.

If you can’t make it in person, donations can be made online through the Platte Fire Department at the link below.
bit.ly/4iNTnxM

Let’s show up for LeRoy like he’s shown up for so many of us.

08/16/2025

Folks starting to register for Dane Jensen's Fun Run. This is his senior project and he is raising money for the Platte Volunteer Fire Department . It's not too late to get involved, registration is 12:00-1:00 at the Platte Elementary School parking lot, come on down.

08/14/2025

Thank you Fast Hydration for the donation of Hydration Packets. We've used them before and staff loves them. Much appreciated!

07/26/2025

All setup, and about ready to start serving. Please join us at the Platte Volunteer Fire Department for our annual open house/free will donation meal. Serving brisket sandwiches, beans, chips, coleslaw and water. Serving from 11:00-1:00. The brisket smells great.

Also today is your last chance to get raffle tickets purchased, we will be drawing at roughly 1:00pm when we are done Serving.

SEE YOU SOON!

06/25/2025

Well it's about that time of year again....Independence day approaches...

For 2025 - SD State Law allows the discharge of fireworks between June 27th and July 6th, 2025. The sale of fireworks to SD residents is allowed June 27th though July 5th.

While we have had some recent rains in the area, local conditions near Platte and surrounding area will change rapidly with hot breezy weather and low relative humidity. Light grassy fuels will dry very quickly with warm temps and breezy weather. Keep your eye on the US National Weather Service Sioux Falls South Dakota Fire Weather Forecast page @ https://www.weather.gov/fsd/fire to keep tabs on current conditions and grassland fire danger indexes.

As you celebrate the upcoming Holiday please use extreme caution when igniting fireworks. You should at minimum have a garden hose or buckets of water or fire extinguishers close by. Try to find a an area clear of dense fine grassy fuels to enjoy your fireworks.
Lets try to have a safe, enjoyable and un-eventful Holiday, free of wildfires and injuries. We at Platte Fire would also like to enjoy the holiday....having a incident free season would be great!

Also, the Platte Community Fireworks Display will be held Friday evening, July 4th, 2025 at the conclusion of the Platte Killer Tomatoes baseball games/sunset.

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06/13/2025

Platte Volunteer FIre Department Fundraiser - We are selling raffle tickets to assist with funding the purchase of a new Fire Apparatus that will be delivered near the end of the year. The drawing will take place July 26th, 2025 during our open house. Get in contact with a Platte Firefighter if you would like to purchase a ticket.

06/12/2025

Engine #1 for Sale and will be available to delivery once new replacement apparatus has arrived - (approx. Nov. of 2025)

10/16/2024

It looks like the predicted weather did arrive as expected, unfortunately....We have been placed into RED FLAG Conditions for Wednesday and as the National Weather Service quotes in their Fire Weather Forecast "Expect a Rinse and Repeat for Thursday..." A Fire Weather Watch has already been issued for Thursday, but it will likely be upgraded to RED FLAG conditions.

Please be cautious with outdoor activities...fuels are VERY receptive to ignition and high winds will spread any fire starts very rapidly. Full Fire Weather Forecast is below....

Fire Weather Planning Forecast for SE SD/SW MN/NW IA/NE Nebraska
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
300 AM CDT Wed Oct 16 2024
..RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM
CDT THIS EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR SOUTHEASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA, FAR
NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA, PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA, AND
PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST IOWA...
..FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH
THURSDAY EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR SOUTHEASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA, FAR
NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA, PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA, AND
PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST IOWA...
DISCUSSION...
Issued at 256 AM CDT Wed Oct 16 2024

Upper level ridging builds across the region today and Thursday, causing temperatures to warm from the 60s back into the mid to upper 70s.
A strengthening LLJ will also result in breezy southerly winds
during this time. As such, have gusts ranging between 25 to 40
MPH, with the strongest along and west of I-29. Given the lack of
appreciable moisture and antecedent dry soils in place, expect
relative humidity values to plummet into the upper teens to 20s
this afternoon. Thus, have expanded the Red Flag Warning to
include our entire area, which will be in effect from 1 PM to 7
PM. We strongly to encourage you to refrain from any activity that
may cause a spark as wildfires can spread quickly in these
conditions.

Expect a rinse and repeat Thursday, as upper level ridging and
breezy southerly winds hold tight across the area. Widespread gusts
between 30 to 40 MPH will be common during this time, with relative
humidity values falling into the low to mid 20s. This will result in
critical to near critical fire danger across our area. Thus, after
collaboration with neighbors have decided to expanded the Fire
Weather Watch to cover our entire area, which will be in effect from
11 AM to 7 PM.

Elevated fire concerns continue Friday, though winds look to
decrease through the afternoon, keeping relative humidity values
above 30%.

SDZ063-162315-
Charles Mix-
Including the cities of Wagner, Platte, Lake Andes, and Marty
300 AM CDT Wed Oct 16 2024
..RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM
CDT THIS EVENING.....FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH
THURSDAY EVENING...
TODAY...
Sky/weather.........Mostly sunny.
Max temperature.....66-71.
Min humidity........13-18 percent.
20-foot winds.......Breezy. South winds 20 to 25 mph with gusts to
around 42 mph.
Haines Index........5 or moderate.
Hours of Sun........10 hours.
Precipitation.......None.
Mixing Height.......Around 2600 ft AGL (Ave 12-6 pm).
Transport Winds.....South around 26 mph (Ave 12-6 pm).
Smoke Dispersal.....Around 69000 or excellent (Ave 12-6 pm).
Max GFDI Index......Very High.
TONIGHT...
Sky/weather.........Clear.
Min temperature.....45-50.
Max humidity........42-47 percent.
20-foot winds.......South winds 18 to 23 mph with gusts to around
37 mph.
Precipitation.......None.
THURSDAY...
Sky/weather.........Sunny.
Max temperature.....77-82.
Min humidity........19-24 percent.
20-foot winds.......Breezy. South winds 20 to 25 mph with gusts to
around 38 mph.
Haines Index........6 or high.
Hours of Sun........10 hours.
Precipitation.......None.
Mixing Height.......Around 2500 ft AGL (Ave 12-6 pm).
Transport Winds.....South around 21 mph (Ave 12-6 pm).
Smoke Dispersal.....Around 52000 or good (Ave 12-6 pm).
Max GFDI Index......Very High.

10/15/2024

This message is for tomorrow (WEDNESDAY) - Predicted Grassland Fire Danger for our area is VERY HIGH with the below Fire Weather Watch predicting that conditions could WORSEN and become RED FLAG. Stay alert and be very cautious if working outside.

Also South Dakota Pheasant Opener coming up on the 19th. These conditions may extend into hunting season, use extreme caution in the fields while hunting and DO NOT DRIVE or PARK vehicles in tall fine grassy fuels.

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
239 AM CDT Tue Oct 15 2024

NEZ013-014-SDZ038>040-050-052>071-151800-
/O.NEW.KFSD.FW.A.0014.241016T1800Z-241017T0000Z/
Dixon-Dakota-Beadle-Kingsbury-Brookings-Gregory-Jerauld-Sanborn-
Miner-Lake-Moody-Brule-Aurora-Davison-Hanson-McCook-Minnehaha-
Charles Mix-Douglas-Hutchinson-Turner-Lincoln-Bon Homme-Yankton-
Clay-Union-
239 AM CDT Tue Oct 15 2024
..FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR WIND AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR
SOUTHEASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA AND FAR NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA...

The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls has issued a Fire
Weather Watch for wind and low relative humidity, which is in
effect from Wednesday afternoon through Wednesday evening.

* AFFECTED AREA...In Nebraska, Dixon and Dakota. In South
Dakota, Beadle, Kingsbury, Brookings, Gregory, Jerauld,
Sanborn, Miner, Lake, Moody, Brule, Aurora, Davison, Hanson,
McCook, Minnehaha, Charles Mix, Douglas, Hutchinson, Turner,
Lincoln, Bon Homme, Yankton, Clay and Union.

* WINDS...South 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 18 percent.

* IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.
Outdoor burning is not recommended.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions
are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible
Red Flag Warnings.

10/05/2024

9am Saturday Update: Red flag warnings have been extended eastward this morning.

USE EXTREME CAUTION when working outdoors today. Report any fires immediately!

10/05/2024

A Red Flag Warning is in effect for most of the region today from 11am until 8 pm. A dry cold front is expected to move through the area this morning turning winds to the northwest. Winds are expected to increase behind the front, with areas to the west of I-29 likely seeing gusts 35-45 mph. Areas east of I-29 will be slightly less but still strong, 30-40 mph. Humidity levels are expected to fall below 25%. The combination of strong winds and low humidity are the reason for the increased risk for fire. Please use caution to avoid sparks, and report any fires immediately.