(Woodbury County, IA) – A huge field fire that began Saturday afternoon near Bronson, in northwest Iowa, quickly spread, and by the time it was contained, had consumed many homes, machine sheds, vehicles and farm equipment as well as one bridge. The fire was discovered by Bronson Fire Chief Devan Amick, as he was driving near Highway 20. It is unknown at this time what started the initial fire.
A statement on social media by the Hinton Fire Chief said his crews were requested at around 3:50-p.m. by Sergeant Bluff Fire/Rescue to assist with a large grass fire near Bronson. Due to the magnitude of the incident, multiple departments were requested from Woodbury County, Plymouth County, Cherokee County, Monona County, as well as neighboring agencies from Nebraska and South Dakota. In all, crews from eight counties were involved in the firefighting effort.
Fueled by strong winds and extremely dry conditions, the fire spread rapidly over several miles. The smoke was so heavy and widespread that it could be seen from as far away as Sioux City. With the smoke spreading over Highway 20, at about 5:25 p.m., the roadway was closed in both directions near Lawton. The highway reopened to traffic just before 8 p.m. on Saturday.
At least one person was transported to a hospital, but as of the latest information, there were no fatalities. The Red Cross has been called in to help families displaced because of the fires.
Authorities say the incident serves as a powerful reminder of how critical it is to follow burn bans. Ongoing dry conditions combined with high winds have created an environment where fires can quickly grow out of control, as were witnessed Saturday.
