61 of 99 Iowa Counties Under Burn Bans Now Includes Worth County

The number of burn bans in Iowa is still rising amid persistent dry conditions.

One of the latest counties to join the list is Worth County, with the burn ban going active at noon Friday (10.18). That burn ban came in the wake of a massive field fire near Northwood on Thursday (10.17) afternoon. 

According to a Northwood Fire & EMS Facebook post, they responded to a large field fire northwest of Northwood rapidly spreading fire about 2:30 pm Thursday afternoon. Due to extreme wind and fire spread, mutual aid was requested from Glenville and Kensett fire departments. 

The fire was caused by a burn pile spreading to nearby CRP, jumping a road and traveling through a field, ending in an occupied livestock pasture. 

Less than 90 minutes later, firefighters worked to contain a working brush fire that was rapidly spreading. The cause of that fire was under investigation.

Northwood fire crews also battled outdoor fires on Friday (10.18) and Saturday (10.19) after the burn ban was activated.

As of 11 am Monday (10.18), 61 of Iowa’s 99 counties are under ban bans, including Chickasaw, Floyd, Howard, Winneshiek, Delaware, Franklin, Fayette, Butler, Cerro Gordo, Clayton, Buchanan, Hancock, Grundy, Hardin, Hamilton and Wright. 

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.

Other than a slight chance of precipitation (20-30%) on Tuesday (10.22) and/or Thursday (10.24), the forecast calls for continued dry conditions through Sunday (10.27), with much of the region in moderate to severe drought.