(Radio Iowa) – An open burning ban has taken effect today (Tuesday) in Sioux County. Sioux Center Fire Chief Dave Van Holland says a truck traveling through the area yesterday (Monday) started 14 fires that stretched across several miles. Van Holland says the driver didn’t realize it was happening.
“Must have had something, a bearing or something go out of his truck or something and started fires all the way from five miles…east of town all the way to…seven miles west of town,” the fire chief said. Most of the fires were contained to roadside ditches, although some spread briefly into nearby fields and along waterways. Firefighters from over half a dozen departments responded. Van Holland says it’s been a busy few days.
Firefighters from Sioux Center were helping deal with hot spots Monday from this past weekend’s grass fire that burned a seven mile stretch through Woodbury and Plymouth Counties. “We all went down there to assist…cleaning up what was still left burning,” Van Holland said, “trees in groves and stuff like that and tire piles.” At least one dozen counties have bans on open burning due to dry conditions.
