Stuart Fire Chief Mike Renslow has sent a request to the office of the State Fire Marshal that open burning be prohibited in the City both in Adair and Guthrie counties. It was therefore ordered that no person shall engage in open burning from now until October 1st at midnight, except as specifically permitted by Iowa Code.

The ban may be extended or rescinded at any time that such conditions dangerous to life or property no longer exist. Any violation of this proclamation is a simple misdemeanor. Guthrie County has been experiencing moderate to extreme drought conditions for almost two months, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.