The number of burn bans in North and Northeast Iowa continue to rise amid persistent dry conditions.
A burn ban in Franklin County was activated at noon Wednesday (10.09), with a burn ban in Fayette County going into effect at 6 pm Wednesday night. Burn bans remain in effect in Chickasaw, Floyd, Howard, Winneshiek, Butler, Cerro Gordo, Clayton, Buchanan, Hancock, Grundy, Hardin, Hamilton and Wright counties. All of which went into effect last week between October 1st and October 4th.
A burn ban in Delaware County has been active since September 24th.
As of 9 am Thursday (10.10), 56 of Iowa’s 99 counties are now under burn bans due to persistent dry conditions, with no rain currently in the forecast through next Wednesday (10.15).
In issuing a burn ban, the state fire marshal finds that conditions are such that open burning constitutes a danger to life or property. The bans will remain in effect until those dangerous conditions no longer exist.
Controlled burns with a permit are still allowed as well as grills and fire pits, however, fire pits must have a cover with openings no bigger than one-square-inch in order to help the prevent spread of embers. Burn ban or not, open burning in these dry conditions is discouraged.
