(State news) – Firefighters in western and central Iowa battled large grass fires that erupted Monday afternoon. One of the fires was in Pottawattamie County, off Interstate 80 at around mile marker 12, near McClelland. The blaze was reported a little after 1:30-p.m. Iowa Department of Transportation cameras located along the interstate, showed flames and heavy smoke along the road.
Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including McClelland Fire, along with crews from Underwood, Lewis Township and Treynor. Pottawattamie County Emergency Management confirmed around 2:45 p.m. that resources on scene were adequate and the fire was under control.
Officials in Stuart said a brush pile fire lit by a homeowner in the 400 block of S. Harrison Street, Monday, got out of control and became a grass fire which caused damage to the homeowner’s house. Two City of Stuart employees who are also firefighters spotted the fire, called it in, and immediately retrieved a fire truck from the station. Authorities say thanks to their quick actions and the rapid response of the Stuart Fire Department, the fire was contained before it could spread to other properties. Stuart Fire reminds residents that if you do choose to burn, always be prepared with an adequate water source on hand and never leave fires unattended. Fires can get out of control in seconds, especially during dry conditions. Please use extreme caution and consider safer alternatives when conditions are dry.
In Union County, officials say the Afton Volunteer Fire Department requested mutual aid from the Creston Fire Department at around 2-p.m., Monday. Authorities say what began as two small fires along the roadside of Hwy 34, between Tulip Ave and Umbrella Ave, quickly spread into the timber of the Talmage Hill Wildlife Area. Other agencies responding to the incident with crews and equipment, included crews from the Murray Volunteer Fire Department and Osceola Fire Department. Firefighters faced challenging conditions on the south side of the fire, including dry grass and winds that pushed the flames north into the timber.
In total, approximately 100 acres burned. One firefighter suffered an injury, was treated, and released from Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston. While the cause of the fire may not be known, the 911 caller suspected it was from a discarded cigarette. Authorities urged people to exercise caution when extinguishing cigarettes while driving, and they remind you that Union County remains under a burn ban.
In Central Iowa, firefighting crews worked Monday afternoon to extinguish multiple grass fires along Highway 65 south and east of Des Moines. According to the Iowa DOT, the right lane and right shoulder of Highway 65 southbound between Southeast Vandalia Road and Southeast 64th Avenue was blocked while emergency responders work to control a blaze in the ditch. The Exit 72 exit ramp from Highway 65 to Highway 5 near Carlisle was also blocked due to separate fire.
Officials have not yet said what caused the fires in Pottawattamie and Polk Counties.
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