Shelby County Emergency Management officials have lowered the county’s fire danger rating from High to “Moderate.” EMA Coordinator Bob Seivert says cooler temperatures, recent and expected moisture will provide a small window for this weekend.

If you have a pile of brush or waste to burn, please call the EMA at 755-2124 and contact your local Fire Chief, so that we are aware of the location and nature of the controlled burn. Please be aware that your city ordinances regarding burn times, and open burning, are all in effect.

The Freese-Notis weather forecast and weather information for Atlantic.

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3:59 AM CDT THU MAR 20 2014

EARLY THIS MORNING…MOSTLY CLEAR. SOUTHWEST WIND NEAR 5 MPH.

TODAY…SUNNY…WARMER. HIGH IN THE LOWER 60S. SOUTHEAST WIND NEAR 5 MPH INCREASING TO SOUTH 10 TO 15 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

TONIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOW IN THE UPPER 30S. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 10 MPH.

FRIDAY…SUNNY…BREEZY. HIGH IN THE MID 50S. NORTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH INCREASING TO 15 TO 25 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON. GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

FRIDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. BREEZY…COLDER. LOW IN THE UPPER 20S. NORTHWEST WIND 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 35 MPH SHIFTING TO THE NORTH 10 TO 15 MPH AFTER MIDNIGHT.

SATURDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. COLDER. HIGH IN THE UPPER 30S. NORTH WIND 10 TO 15 MPH.

SATURDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOW AROUND 20.

SUNDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 30S.

Next week, March 24^th through the 28^th, is Severe Weather Awareness Week. Cass County Emergency Management Director Mike Kennon says a Statewide Tornado Drill will take place on or about 10:15-a.m., with the warning sirens being activated throughout the County, and weather radios sounding their alerts. Kennon says the tornado drill will be an excellent opportunity for Cass County residents, businesses and schools to practice their own procedures in the event of severe weather. 

In the event of severe weather or potential severe weather on the day of the test, these test watches may be postponed. More information about Severe Weather Awareness Week and the related Tornado Drill will be released in the coming days.

Another form of severe weather is extremely dry and windy conditions that can cause controlled burns to quickly spread and become out of control, placing lives and property in danger. As we’ve mentioned before, numerous Counties this week instituted a ban on open burning, including Fremont, Page, Pottawattamie, Mills and Montgomery Counties. Shelby County began their bi-weekly updates on the Fire Danger in that county, on Monday, with the risk currently being “High” for fires to spread.

Kennon says there is no ban on open, outdoor burning in Cass County, but that may change. He says the matter will be discussed during a County Fire Association meeting Thursday night. Local fire chiefs can elect to place a burn ban in effect for their specific district, if they wish, but in general, a consensus is obtained from all the chiefs to call for a County-wide Burn Ban, which is more formal and encompassing. Anyone thinking about conducting a controlled burn in the mean time, needs to do two things, according to Kennon…

He says you need to call your local fire chief and get their permission, and if that’s granted, call the Cass County Communications Center to inform them about when and where you plan to burn, so fire department personnel and equipment needlessly respond to what may be perceived by others to be an uncontrolled burn. For a current list of counties with a burn ban in-place or those that will be in effect, go to http://www.dps.state.ia.us/fm/main/burnbans/

The Freese-Notis weather forecast and weather information for Atlantic.

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(Updated 4:05-a.m.)

EARLY THIS MORNING…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. BREEZY. NORTHWEST WIND 15 TO 25 MPH.

TODAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. BREEZY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 40S. NORTHWEST WIND 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 35 MPH.

TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW AROUND 30. WEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH. GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH THROUGH MIDNIGHT.

THURSDAY…SUNNY…WARMER. HIGH IN THE LOWER 60S. SOUTHWEST WIND 5 TO 15 MPH.

THURSDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLEAR. LOW IN THE MID 30S. SOUTH WIND NEAR 10 MPH.

FRIDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY. BREEZY. HIGH IN THE MID 50S. NORTHWEST WIND 10 TO 15 MPH INCREASING TO 15 TO 25 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

FRIDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOW IN THE UPPER 20S.

SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. COLDER. HIGH AROUND 40. LOW 21 TO 28.

SUNDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGH IN THE UPPER 30S.

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.