Drought and recent brush fires have prompted a burn ban for all communities in Muscatine, Clinton and Scott counties in Iowa.
The burn ban comes on the heels of an three firefighters suffering heat-related injuries while fighting an 11-acre brush fire Monday, September 9, 2013 in Muscatine.
Most communities in and around the Quad Cities have not had appreciable rainfall since early August 2013. Dry conditions have allowed small fires to quickly spread in area fields.
The Muscatine County burn ban applies to fires of any type, including those in contained fire pits. All communities, including the City of Muscatine, are included in the ban area. The Muscatine County burn ban is effective as of noon Wednesday, September 11, 2013 and will remain in effect until further notice.
State Fire Marshal Raymond Reynolds said conditions in Scott County “are such that open burning constitutes a danger to life or property.”
Scott and Clinton county officials have also banned all open burning in all communities there as of Wednesday, September 11, 2013 until conditions improve so the danger to life and property no longer exists.
In Iowa, violating an issued burn ban is a misdemeanor.
Information from Scott County officials said their ban does not apply to controlled burns for which a permit is issued, nor does it apply to outdoor fireplaces, barbecue grills, trash incinerators, certain trash burners or properly supervised landfills.
Louisa County officials issued a burn ban starting at 5 p.m. Thursday, September 12, 2013.
