(Red Oak, IA) – Firefighters in southwest Iowa and elsewhere battled field and ditch fires, Thursday. According to Red Oak Fire Chief John Bruce, multiple southwest Iowa fire departments were called to the 1300 block of Lumber Ave, in rural Essex, for a field fire. The blaze was reported just before 4-p.m. Upon arrival, firefighters had two separate brush piles on fire, with fire extension into a nearby grass/harvested corn field. Crews were able to make a quick knock down and bring the fire under control.Two separate farmers assisted with their tractors and disks to diminish the spread of the flames.

Photos from the Red Oak Fire Department’s Facebook page (3-12-26)

About a half-hour later, as the firefighters were wrapping-up fire control efforts, they were notified by Montgomery County Communications about a ditch fire at 270th/O Ave (Montgomery County). Fire crews arrived on scene just south of Montgomery-Page Street on O Avenue, to find several acres of CRP ground on fire with a large wall of fire moving very quickly, (crossing a rural road) and proceeding north into harvested corn and additional pasture ground.

One residence to the east was advised that evacuation may be imminent if fire crews weren’t able to contain/stop the spread of the fire. Fire crews were able to finally contain/stop the spread of the fire with approximately 60 acres burned. Chief Bruce said, thankfully mutual aid departments were still close on Lumber Ave, as well as several farmers assisting with various agriculture implements to assist stopping the progression of the fire.

No injuries reported. Fire-ground operations were eventually terminated at around 6:25-p.m.

Assisting/Responding Agencies to the incidents included:

Essex Fire Rescue

Clarinda Fire Department

Stanton Fire and Rescue Department

Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency

Montgomery County 911

Stanton Fire and Rescue Department

Villlisca FD

Grant FD

Clarinda Fire Department

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office – Red Oak, Iowa

Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency

Montgomery County 911

Page Co 911