Brian Hamman, Montgomery County Emergency Management Coordinator, says due to abnormally warm temperatures and several months of below normal precipitation, Montgomery County rural areas are extremely dry. In the past few weeks, area fire departments in Montgomery County as well as surrounding counties have responded to numerous grass and wildland type fires. The Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency has polled all Fire Chiefs as to implement a burn ban for Montgomery County.

All departments were in agreement to the ban and the ban has been approved by the Iowa State Fire Marshalls Office in Des Moines.
Effective 10-a.m. Wednesday, February 1st, 2012, all open burning will be banned within the rural areas of Montgomery County until further notice under Chapter 100 of the Iowa Code. An application to your local fire chief can be obtained to allow a permit for an open burn if your local Fire Official believes it is safe to do so. After approval of the permit, several entities within Montgomery County are informed to lessen the danger of false alarms.

This is a dangerous situation. The conditions are currently favorable for a fast moving wildland fire that can destroy property and be life threatening if uncontrolled. If adequate moisture is received, a revocation of the ban will be considered by all Montgomery County Fire Officials.