(Red Oak) Ten southwest and west-central Iowa counties are at high risk for grass fires according to the Iowa grassland fire danger index.
Area counties included in the high-risk category are Cass, Audubon, Guthrie, Carroll, Crawford, Harrison, and Monona Counties. Higher than average temperatures and the lack of snow have created drier than normal conditions in some rural areas.
Montgomery County Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Hamman says it’s not uncommon for people wanting to burn large brush piles or even yard waste year-round. However, with these drier than normal conditions, the uptick in wild land type grass/field fires has and will ultimately increase until we get precipitation, whether it be additional snowfall or spring rain to help with those conditions.
Hamman says if you plan to burn, here are some steps you can take to be prepared and proactive if your fire grows more extensive than expected or out of control.
- Use commonsense!
• Always have a water source readily available
• Disk around the area you plan to burn
• Always have someone nearby or at the burn site to ensure the fire is contained and, of course, make sure the light is out before you leave the area.
• If you can, it’s always a good idea to wet down the field after the light is out to ensure no embers reignite hours or even days later.
• Lastly, if you have a large burn planned, whether it be in a pit, CRP or terraces, reach out to your local fire department for assistance. Most of our departments are more than willing to assist with these types of burns as training for members and also as a secondary revenue source depending on the scope and need of what is to be burned.
Hamman says if you do plan to burn, we always recommend that you call your local Communications Center to let them know you are burning.
There is no current countywide burn ban in effect at this time if conditions continue to stay dry; however, that will be discussed between the county fire chiefs to determine whether one needs issuing. If a burn ban is issued, that information will be relayed to all of our local media partners across the area as well as shared on social media.
