712 Digital Group - top

Field and brush fires reported across Iowa Sunday

Ag/Outdoor, News, Weather

February 25th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Southwest Iowa) – Firefighters across western and central Iowa were kept busy, today (Sunday), knocking down field and brush fires, some of which resulted from controlled burns, while the cause of other incidents were unknown. The Red Oak Fire Department reported on social media, that around 5:17-p.m, Sunday, firefighting crews from the Elliott, Red Oak and Grant FD’s were dispatched to the Justin & Angel Paul property at 1849 140th Street, for a reported brush pile fire that had gotten out of control. Crews were able to contain the fire and terminated fire/ground operations at 5:50-p.m. No injuries were reported.

Sunday evening fire in Montgomery County (Red Oak FD pics)

A Ban on Open burning will be in effect beginning Monday morning, Feb. 26, 2024, for Page, Montgomery and Mills Counties. Harrison County remains under a burn ban until further notice. Adair and Guthrie Counties instituted a burn ban on Saturday. Residents are reminded to “Please make sure all previously burnt areas, brush piles, etc.. have been completely extinguished/buried.”

Less than three-hours after the fire Sunday evening was reported, Red Oak Fire crews were dispatched to property owned by Thomas and Beth Falk, at 1767 165th St, for a reported grass fire. First arriving Fire crews reported one-acre of grass on fire. Mutual Aid was automatically dispatched requesting the Stanton and Elliott Fire Departments, but those crews were  then disregarded.

Sunday afternoon fire

Fire officials say the property owner had been conducting property clean-up and had a burn pit in use. It is believed that embers from this activity started the grass on fire. No injuries reported. Fire/ground operations were terminated at approximately 3:10-p.m.

In Story County, the Kelley Fire Department responded to a fire in a cornfield near 510th Avenue and 300th Street. According to the Story County Sheriff’s Office, the fire grew to 10,000 square feet. A nearby house was not damaged, and no injuries have been reported at this time.

Conditions on Monday may be favorable for more fires with gusty winds and dry conditions. Most of the state of Iowa will be under a Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service in Des Moines from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday.

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.