Following a spate of field fires over the weekend, officials from throughout the region have requested a burn ban be implemented in their respective counties. On Sept. 29, the Audubon and Carroll Emergency Management Departments submitted burn ban requests from the counties’ fire departments to the Iowa Fire Marshal’s Office, which were approved on Sunday. Effective immediately, no Audubon or Carroll County resident shall engage in open burning unless issued a permit from their local district’s fire chief. The order does not prohibit the use of outdoor fireplaces, barbecue grills, or applicable trash incinerators. Violation of the burn ban is a simple misdemeanor and subject to potential fines. Crawford and Greene Counties were already under active burning bans prior to this weekend. The bans will remain in effect until further notice.
