Burn Ban In Effect For Scott County
A burn ban has been put into effect for all of Scott County.
In a press released announced on Thursday, the Scott County Emergency Management Agency, along with the local Fire Chiefs and the State Fire Marshalls Office, has concluded that open burning is a danger to life and property for Scott County.
The press release gave current conditions and concerns for open burning:
- Lack of ground moisture
- Usual vegetative debris at this time of the year
- Increased vegetative debris from the Derecho Storm
The burn ban officially went into effect as on Thursday, September 3rd at 12:00 pm for all of Scott County, which is within the Iowa Code 100.40(1) (1995).
Our weather partner, Local 4 News, shows that more than 99% of Iowa is currently in a drought. According to Local 4 News, the USDA and National Weather Service on shows that 99.37% of the state is experience at least some drought conditions right now. 18 counties in west-central Iowa, is considered to be in “Extreme Drought” currently. Winnebago and northwest Worth County are currently less than "Abnormally Dry."
The press release concludes that the National Weather Service has predictions for rain starting later this weekend which possibly may continue through next week. Currently, their confidence is low with these prediction modules. The burn ban will be lifte once the danger to life & property is gone.
Additional information and details can be found in the links below:
- State of Iowa Fire Marshal Burn Ban https://dps.iowa.gov/divisions/state-fire-marshal/burn-bans External Link
- National Weather Service Drought Monitor Graphics https://www.weather.gov/dvn/drought External Link
- Iowa Code 100.40 for Burn Ban https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ico/chapter/2013/100.40.pdf External Link
- Scott County Emergency Agency https://www.scottcountyiowa.gov/ema