Van Meter Fire (South Dakota)
Satellite image: NASA MODIS (infrared — active fire in orange/red, from yesterday).
Heat detections: NASA FIRMS (last 48h).
Quick facts
- Location
- Jones County
- Cause
- Natural
- Jurisdiction
- Private land
Burning across 300 acres of private land in Jones County, South Dakota, the active Van Meter Fire continues to pose challenges during a local fire season that typically spans from June to October. Natural factors sparked the blaze on September 8, 2026, setting off a sequence of events currently being monitored by remote sensing technology.
Orbiting satellites have detected eight thermal signatures near the perimeter over the past 48 hours, illustrating the localized spread of the active front across the South Dakota landscape.
This incident unfolds within a broader national context where 3,188,211 hectares have burned across the country so far in 2026, tracking 42 percent below the two-decade average for the same period.
In context
This wildfire has been burning in South Dakota for less than a day. So far it has affected roughly 300 acres — about 1.2 km².
In the Northern Hemisphere, wildfire activity usually peaks during the warm, dry months — roughly May through October.
The bigger picture in United States
Across United States, roughly 3,188,211 hectares have burned so far in 2026 — 42% below the two-decade average. Data from Copernicus GWIS.
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