Photo Courtesy of the Office of the Iowa Fire Marshal

Warm, dry and windy conditions across Iowa much of late winter and early this spring have led to dangerous fire conditions and burn bans issued by local authorities. As of Tuesday, 21 of Iowa’s 99 counties are currently under an open burn ban according to the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Office. In the KCII listening area, Henry County Emergency Management Coordinator Walt Jackson and Sheriff Rich McNamee began enforcing a burn ban March 13th, while Jefferson County Emergency Management Coordinator Brett Ferrel and Sheriff Bart Richmond implemented a ban Monday.

While the ban means restrictions are placed on burning, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety, the ban does not prohibit supervised, controlled burns for which a permit has been issued. It also does not prohibit the use of outdoor fireplaces, barbecue grills, supervised landfills, burning in incinerators or trash burners made of metal, concrete, masonry, or heavy wire mesh with no openings greater than one square inch.

Neither Henry or Jefferson County are listed in the latest report from the US Drought Monitor as under drought conditions at this time, though abnormally dry conditions persist in portions of Iowa, Johnson and Louisa County. Over the next seven days in southeast Iowa, the forecast is calling for precipitation chances Wednesday and Sunday, with highs in the 40s and 50s. Stay tuned to KCII for weather updates.