(Red Oak & Clarinda, Iowa) – Montgomery County Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Hamman reports effective immediately, Montgomery County and Page County are placed into an Open Burn Ban by unanimous decision of all Fire Chiefs. The ban prohibits all open and controlled burning in Montgomery County and Page County unless an official burn ban permit has been issued by the proper fire chief.

Citizens are reminded to not throw out cigarettes from moving vehicles and to discontinue burning yard waste, piled tree debris, grass/agricultural ground and set-asides or other items during this ban. Small recreational camp fires are permitted only if they are conducted in a fire place of brick, metal or heavy one-inch wire mesh. Any camp fire not in an outdoor fire place is prohibited.

Violation of a burn ban can subject a person to citation or arrest for reckless use of fire or disobeying a burn ban.