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  "description": "The Black Hills region has already had severe fires and is currently in a \"high\" fire danger risk (4 out of 6). ",
  "path": "/fact-brief-mount-rushmore-black-hills-fireworks-drought/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-16T10:05:17.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.sdnewswatch.org",
  "tags": [
    "South Dakota News Watch Quiz - GigafactGigafact",
    "this one.",
    "Pennington County (April 7, 2026)",
    "Mount Rushmore fireworks celebration draws strong public interest for America's 250th",
    "President Trump Brings Big Fireworks Displays Back To Mount Rushmore",
    "Pennington County launches wildfire preparedness campaign after recent Black Hills fires",
    "South Dakota News Watch",
    "Gigafact",
    "on the tipline",
    "Donate",
    "Share your thoughts on this story",
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  "textContent": "## Yes.\n\nThree months before a planned fireworks celebration commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary, Mount Rushmore is under an extreme drought designation.\n\nThe national memorial is at a level 5 of 6 tiers ranging from a drought condition of “normal” to “exceptional,” as of an April 7 report.\n\nThe Black Hills region has already had severe fires and is currently in a \"high\" fire danger risk (4 out of 6).\n\nSouth Dakota News Watch Quiz - GigafactGigafact\n\nThe state of South Dakota says 102,991 tickets were requested for the celebration on July 3. About 4,800 will be able to attend, and applicants were notified April 14 if they were successful.\n\nAfter the event was discontinued during President Obama’s administration in 2009 because of wildfire and other enviornmental concerns, President Trump’s first administration brought it back in 2020.\n\nThe celebration will feature \"lighting elements\" if \"environmental conditions require an alternative to fireworks,\" according to Travel South Dakota.\n\n_This fact brief responds to conversations such as_  this one.\n\n## Sources\n\nU.S. Drought Monitor, Pennington County (April 7, 2026)\n\nState of South Dakota News, Mount Rushmore fireworks celebration draws strong public interest for America's 250th\n\nNPR, President Trump Brings Big Fireworks Displays Back To Mount Rushmore\n\nKOTA-TV, Pennington County launches wildfire preparedness campaign after recent Black Hills fires\n\n* * *\n\nSouth Dakota News Watch partners with Gigafact to publish fact briefs that refute or confirm a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context. Send questions or feedback to _news@sdnewswatch.org_. Submit a question for us to answer on the tipline.\n\nThis newsletter and all our stories are free because we believe that ****essential, fact-based information should be available to everyone**** , not just those who can pay for it. If you can afford it, ****please consider joining others and becoming a supporter****. Thank you.\n\n\n                            Donate\n                        \n\nShare your thoughts on this story\n\n_**South Dakota News Watch** is an independent nonprofit. Read, donate and subscribe for free at _sdnewswatch.org_.**Contact freelance reporter Michael Klinski:** michael.klinski@sdnewswatch.org._",
  "title": "Fact brief: Is Mount Rushmore National Memorial currently in extreme drought?",
  "updatedAt": "2026-04-19T01:04:47.123Z"
}