Two more counties are being be added to the list of counties in the KJAN listening area which have called for a ban on open burning. A Burn Ban went into effect at 10-a.m. Tuesday, for Fremont County. Later that same day, emergency management officials in Page, Pottawattamie and Montgomery Counties announced Burn Bans would be in effect in those counties beginning at 8-a.m. today (Wednesday). The bans will remain in effect until further notice.

The current dry conditions throughout the region have caused an increase in fire responses throughout eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa. As dry conditions persist, dead and drying vegetation is the perfect fuel to spread fires rapidly. Pottawattamie County EMA Director Doug Reed says Pott. County “Has seen the devastating effects of fire in extreme conditions and we want to do everything we can to help mitigate an incident like that from occurring.”

During these dry conditions, citizens are reminded to not throw out cigarettes from moving vehicles and to discontinue burning yard waste, piled tree debris or other items during the 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.

Pottawattamie County Emergency Management reports a burning ban will be in place for Pottawattamie County starting Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at 8:00 a.m. The ban prohibits open burning in Pottawattamie County, including all the cities within the county.

The current dry conditions throughout the region have caused an increase in fire responses throughout eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa. As dry conditions persist, dead and drying vegetation is the perfect fuel to spread fires rapidly. EMA Director Doug Reed says Pott. County “Has seen the devastating effects of fire in extreme conditions and we want to do everything we can to help mitigate an incident like that from occurring.”

During these dry conditions, citizens are reminded to not throw out cigarettes from moving vehicles and to discontinue burning yard waste, piled tree debris or other items during the 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. For more information on burn bans and the law you can find further information on our facebook page or you may call 712-328-5777.

Montgomery County Emergency Management Director Brian Hamman has announced a Burn Ban will be in effect for that county beginning at 8-a.m. Tuesday and lasting until further notice. Fremont County has already instituted a ban on open, outdoor burning. Hamman says several other counties in southwest Iowa are in the process of issuing a Burn Ban.

Fremont County is the first of what is likely to become many counties in southwest Iowa to request and receive approval for the instituting of a ban on outdoor burning from the State. The State Fire Marshal’s Office received the request today (Tuesday) from Fremont County Emergency Manager Mike Crecelius. Crecelius represents each of the fire departments within the County, in their request to implement a Burn Ban effective immediately, and lasting until further notice.

The Ban states that conditions in Fremont County are such that open burning constitutes a danger to life or property, and requires that no person engage in open burning except until such time the fire district chiefs feel the danger is reduced or no longer exists.

Violating the Burn Ban is a simple misdemeanor, which requires a court appearance.

The Freese-Notis (podcast) weather forecast for the KJAN listening area, and weather information for Atlantic.

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa officials say the harsh winter is expected to affect some fish populations in the state. The state Department of Natural Resources says lakes and ponds experience natural winter fish mortality. But Jim Wahl, supervisor for fisheries in northwest Iowa, says officials are expecting to see more lakes and ponds affected this time around. Wahl added a few lakes are experiencing oxygen levels that are lower than normal.

Officials say lakes under snow are shut off from sunlight that helps aquatic plants. That has a ripple effect on photosynthesis and the flow of oxygen into the water. DNR officials have placed aeration systems at a few lakes with a history of winter kills. Those systems keep a section of a lake from freezing.

Today Scattered showers, mainly after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 53. Breezy, with a south wind 14 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tonight Rain, possibly mixing with snow after midnight, then gradually ending. Low around 29. Windy, with a northwest wind 6 to 11 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. Windy, with a northwest wind 20 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.

Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. West northwest wind 5 to 11 mph becoming southwest after midnight.

Thursday Sunny, with a high near 59. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.

Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 35.

Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. Breezy.

Here’s the (Podcast) Freese-Notis Weather forecast for the KJAN listening area & weather information for Atlantic.

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Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. Windy, with a south wind 14 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.                                                                                                                                      Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Breezy, with a south wind 16 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Tuesday: Rain likely, mainly after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. Breezy, with a south wind 13 to 20 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.                                                                                                                                              Tuesday Night: Rain likely, possibly mixing with snow after 10pm, then gradually ending. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Windy, with a northwest wind 18 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of rain after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 48. Breezy.                                                                                                                                                   Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 57.

COUNTIES: MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT- PAGE–
347 AM CDT MON MAR 17 2014

…A FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM CDT THIS
    AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND
    GUSTY WINDS.

* WIND…SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST AT 15 TO 25 MPH…WITH GUSTS TO 30
TO35 MPH.

* HUMIDITY…20 TO 25 PERCENT.

* IMPACTS…ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP WILL LIKELY SPREAD RAPIDLY.
      OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS
ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR. LISTEN FOR LATER FORECASTS AND POSSIBLE
RED FLAG WARNINGS.