This study represents an attempt to develop an improved Haines Index for the Black Hills region. Approximately 28,000 Rapid City, SD upper air soundings from 1957-1997 were analyzed to establish a base climatology of Haines Indices for the Black Hills region. The vertical levels used in the calculation of the Haines Index were then adjusted in an attempt to better highlight those days in which large fires occurred within the Black Hills National Forest, but at the same time not increase the long term percentage of 5 or 6 Haines Index days dramatically from the base climatology. It was found that the new levels used to calculate the Haines Index increased the average Haines Index for 42 large fire days in the Black Hills National Forest, while not significantly altering it's long term climatology.