Iowans who plan to burn a field, ditch or big brush pile would have to notify the local fire chief under a bill that cleared the Iowa Senate. Senator Merlin Bartz, a republican from Grafton, says it’ll help volunteer fire departments in small towns.The bill passed on a 29 to 19 vote. Opponents worried ANY open burning in rural Iowa would have to be reported. Others said it’d be hard to get reach a small town fire chief, as it’s a volunteer job.
