(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon reports an open burning ban is now in place for Cass County (Effective 2-p.m. Tuesday, February 27, 2024). The ban prohibits open and controlled burning in Cass County, Iowa; including all incorporated city limits within the county. (See the proclamation here )

The current drought conditions present an increased risk for the potential of rapid fire spread. Controlled fires can quickly become uncontrollable. It has been determined that open burning constitutes a danger to life or property.

During these dry conditions, citizens are reminded to not throw out cigarettes from moving vehicles and to discontinue burning yard waste, piled tree debris, grass/agricultural ground and set-asides or other items during the ban. Small recreational patio or 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. The ban will remain in place until environmental conditions improve.

Any questions regarding this burn ban should be directed to your local Fire Chief.

Today: Mostly sunny, with a temperature rising to near 54 by 10am, then falling to around 36 during the remainder of the day. Windy, with a southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north northwest 16 to 26 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph. …WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 3 AM WEDNESDAY for sustained NW winds of 20-to 45 mph.
Tonight: A 30 percent chance of snow, mainly before 11pm. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 11. Wind chill values as low as -5. Windy, with a north northwest wind 18 to 28 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 34. Wind chill values as low as -5. Breezy, with a northwest wind 8 to 17 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 56. Windy.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 62. Windy.

Monday’s High of 78 in Atlantic smashed the old record of 72 set in 1896 (128 years ago). The Low was 33. Last year on this date the High in Atlantic was 45 and the Low was 24. The Record High for Feb. 27th was 71 in 2016. The Record Low was -16 in 1960. Sunrise: 6:58. Sunset: 6:08.

Here is a map of counties in Iowa that have a Burn Ban currently in-place until further notice. Updates are posted on the IDPS website.

Council Bluffs, Iowa – An open burning ban will be in effect immediately for all areas and jurisdictions in Pottawattamie County. The ban prohibits all open and controlled burning in Potawatamie County, including all incorporated city limits within the County.

The current dry conditions throughout the region have caused an increase in wild land fire incidents over the weekend. As dry conditions persist, dead and dying vegetation is the perfect fuel to spread fires rapidly. A Red Flag Warning was issued today due to conditions being prime for extreme fire behavior. This type of fire behavior is difficult to control and is extremely dangerous to responders and the public.

During these dry conditions, citizens are reminded to not throw out cigarettes from moving vehicles, and discontinue burning yard waste, piled tree debris or other items during the ban.
Violations of a burn ban can subject a person to criminal penalties as well as civil liabilities for any damages, losses, or injuries resulting from the fire.

Visit the Emergency Management website at https://pcema-ia.org for more information on burn bans and the law. All residents are also encouraged to sign up for AlertIowa at the website to receive alerts for fire danger, evacuation notices, severe weather threats, and community emergency notifications.

(Radio Iowa) – A Red Flag warning is posted today (Monday) for most of Iowa and residents are warned not to do any open burning, as vegetation is very dry and winds will be gusting. Meteorologist Kristy Carter, at the National Weather Service, says high temperatures may climb into record or near-record territory in the 60s and 70s this afternoon.  “We’re even going to be approaching the all-time February record high at some locations,” Carter says. “We’re going to combine that with some extreme fire danger as well. So that warmth with those strong winds, it’s going to lead to those extreme fire weather conditions, so certainly burning is not recommended today.” She says any fires that are set could quickly spread and burn out of control.

A big turnaround in temperatures is coming as forecasters say we’ll see lows across Iowa tomorrow night in the single digits and teens with snow possible. “Our temperatures are going to drop drastically through the day,” Carter says. “We’ll start warm, but by the afternoon into evening, temperatures are going to plummet. Our winds are also going to increase as well, so that’s going to send our wind chills down toward zero or below zero even by Wednesday morning.” Carter says the mid-week cold snap won’t last long with a return to warmer temperatures to welcome the first weekend of March.

“On Wednesday, we’ll actually be closer to typical highs for the month of February in the mid 20s to mid 30s, but that will be very short lived,” Carter says. “We’re heading into the 50s by Thursday and then we’ll be approaching records again by the weekend.” The first day of Spring is March 19th.

Today: **RED FLAG WARNING for critical fire weather conditions (low humidity & strong winds) from 9-a.m. until 6-p.m.** Sunny & breezy. High near 75. S winds @ 10-20 shifting to the W/SW & gusting to around 25.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 42. S/SW @ 10-20 mph.
Tomorrow: Mostly sunny & windy, with a high near 63. S-N/NW @ 15-25 mph.
Tom.Night: A 40% chance of snow through midnight. Low around 12. N/NW @ 20-45 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Wednesday: A 20% chance of snow before 7am. Otherwise Mostly sunny & windy, with a high near 32.
Thursday: Sunny & windy, with a high near 52.

Sunday’s High in Atlantic was 69 (one degree shy of the record high). The Low was 19. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 72 and the Low was 19. The Record High for Feb. 26th was 72 degrees, set in 1896. The Record Low was -28, in 1963. Sunrise: 6:59. Sunset: 6:06.

(Southwest Iowa) – Firefighters across western and central Iowa were kept busy, today (Sunday), knocking down field and brush fires, some of which resulted from controlled burns, while the cause of other incidents were unknown. The Red Oak Fire Department reported on social media, that around 5:17-p.m, Sunday, firefighting crews from the Elliott, Red Oak and Grant FD’s were dispatched to the Justin & Angel Paul property at 1849 140th Street, for a reported brush pile fire that had gotten out of control. Crews were able to contain the fire and terminated fire/ground operations at 5:50-p.m. No injuries were reported.

Sunday evening fire in Montgomery County (Red Oak FD pics)

A Ban on Open burning will be in effect beginning Monday morning, Feb. 26, 2024, for Page, Montgomery and Mills Counties. Harrison County remains under a burn ban until further notice. Adair and Guthrie Counties instituted a burn ban on Saturday. Residents are reminded to “Please make sure all previously burnt areas, brush piles, etc.. have been completely extinguished/buried.”

Less than three-hours after the fire Sunday evening was reported, Red Oak Fire crews were dispatched to property owned by Thomas and Beth Falk, at 1767 165th St, for a reported grass fire. First arriving Fire crews reported one-acre of grass on fire. Mutual Aid was automatically dispatched requesting the Stanton and Elliott Fire Departments, but those crews were  then disregarded.

Sunday afternoon fire

Fire officials say the property owner had been conducting property clean-up and had a burn pit in use. It is believed that embers from this activity started the grass on fire. No injuries reported. Fire/ground operations were terminated at approximately 3:10-p.m.

In Story County, the Kelley Fire Department responded to a fire in a cornfield near 510th Avenue and 300th Street. According to the Story County Sheriff’s Office, the fire grew to 10,000 square feet. A nearby house was not damaged, and no injuries have been reported at this time.

Conditions on Monday may be favorable for more fires with gusty winds and dry conditions. Most of the state of Iowa will be under a Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service in Des Moines from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday.

A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

[Red Oak, Iowa] – Montgomery County Emergency Management Director Brian Hamman today (Sunday), said “An open burn ban will go into effect Monday, February 26, 2024 at 8:00am, for all areas and jurisdictions within Montgomery County. The ban prohibits all open and controlled burning in Montgomery County, including all incorporated city limits within the county.”

Record high temperatures, limited to no moisture and continued drought conditions has created dangerous fire conditions throughout the entire area. Extended forecast outlooks show well above normal temperatures as well as extremely windy conditions causing concern that any outdoor fire will become large and out of control in a very short amount of time.

“Citizens are reminded to not throw out cigarettes from moving vehicles and to discontinue burning yard waste, piled tree debris, grass/agricultural ground and set asides or other items during this ban. Small recreational campfires are permitted only if they are conducted in a fireplace of brick, metal or heavy one-inch wire mesh, however extreme caution should be taken. Any campfire not in an outdoor fireplace is prohibited,” according to Hamman.

Violation of a burn ban can subject a person to criminal charges as well as civil liabilities for any damages, losses or injuries resulting from the fire. The open burn ban is anticipated to remain in effect until the county receives substantial precipitation alleviating the increased fire danger risk.

Today: Sunny, with a high near 64. Calm wind becoming west northwest 5 to 8 mph in the morning.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 37. Calm wind becoming south southeast 5 to 7 mph after midnight.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 75. Breezy, with a southwest wind 8 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. Windy, with a south wind 6 to 11 mph becoming north northwest 18 to 23 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph.
Tuesday Night: A chance of rain and snow before 9pm, then a chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 11. Windy. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 30. Windy.

Saturday’s High in Atlantic was 58. The Low was 15. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 41 and the Low was 9. The Record High for Feb. 25th was 70 degrees, set in 1995. The Record Low was -14, in 2010. Sunrise: 7:01. Sunset: 6:05.