(Onawa, Iowa) – Monona County Emergency Coordinator Patrick Prorok, Friday night, issued a statement concerning a wild fire near E-60 and Oak, in the Moorhead area. Prorok said the fire has been contained as of 9-p.m., Friday, thanks to the continued help of various volunteer fire departments in Monona and Harrison Counties. There was also continued support from some local farmers, who used their tractors and disc implements to try and keep the fire from spreading by plowing a fire line.

Prorok said additional resources were brought in by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources from across the State. Firefighting resources of Conservation personnel from at least 5 different counties were also brought in for the event, along with help from the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation.

“Hill and wildfire firefighting require special equipment,” he said, as well as “Special training, and special tactics, and this was brought to (Monona) County with these outside resources.” Credit also went out to the Monona County Sheriff’s Office and Dispatch, Monona County Roads Dept., and the Monona and Harrison County EMA managers.

Patrick Prorok
Emergency Management Coordinator

Patrick Prorok said “At this time, the burned timber and grassland will be monitored by firefighting personnel over the next several days. Roads in this area will continue to be closed as Monona County Roads goes back into the area to move downed trees, repair burnt barricades, and replace most of the road signs in the area that have been burnt of damaged.”

Prorok extends a special “Thank you” to all the communities for their support, with donations of drinking water and sports drinks for all the firefighters.”