Emergency managers in some cities and counties in Iowa and Illinois banned open burning because of hot and dry weather conditions.
The Village of Oquawka, Illinois issued a ban on open burning July 6, 2012. Fire Chief Hal Jern said open burning will be banned there until we receive significant rainfall.
Jackson County, Illinois was placed under a burn ban June 28, 2012. Officials have banned open burning in the cities of Peru, Ladd and Oglesby in Illinois as well.
As of Thursday afternoon, July 12, 2012, 21 Iowa counties had declared a ban on open burning.
Burn bans are in effect for these Iowa counties as of these dates:
Benton County – as of July 16 at 8 a.m.
Black Hawk County – July 17 at 11 a.m.
Bremer County – July 12 at 2 p.m.
Buchanan County – July 12 at 2 p.m.
Butler County – July 8 at 6 a.m.
Clayton County – July 5 at 5 p.m.
Delaware County – July 10 at 6 a.m.
Dubuque County – July 5 at 8 a.m.
Fayette County – July 5 at 10 a.m.
Hardin County – July 10 at 6 p.m.
Jackson County – July 13 at 8 a.m.
Jefferson County – July 10 at 3 p.m
Johnson County – July 12 at noon
Linn County – July 6 at 4 p.m.
Mahaska County – July 13 at noon
Marion County – July 11 at 4 p.m.
Marshall County – July 11 at 6 p.m.
Scott County – July 11 at 6 p.m.
Story County – July 13 at 8 a.m.
Tama County – July 9 at 6 p.m.
Wapello County – July 9 at 1 p.m.
Extreme heat and drought conditions make it much easier for outdoor burning to quickly spread and get out of control.
Additional counties were expected to join the list of those with declared bans on open burning if dry conditions persist.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety maintains a current list of counties with declared bans on open burning at this link: http://www.dps.state.ia.us/fm/main/burnbans/index.shtml
