The weather’s warm and dry, prompting officials in one southwest Iowa county to issue a burn advisory, while two other counties have enacted open burning bans. Teresa Jackson, the Ringgold County emergency management coordinator, says volunteer fire departments in her area have been busy, so the burn advisory has been posted.
Jackson urges residents to use good judgment by checking the weather and wind conditions before lighting an open fire. She says to ask for help from the fire department before having a controlled burn and “making a big mistake.” Jackson says to make sure the fire is completely extinguished before leaving the scene. Wayne and Appanoose County in southeast Iowa are the only counties currently under a burn ban.