O'Brien County burn ban in effect

Open burning in the unincorporated parts of O'Brien County is prohibited indefinitely following a request granted Monday by the Iowa State Fire Marshal.

The ban will be in place until dry and windy conditions dissipate. The request was submitted to state officials by O'Brien County Board of Supervisors Chair Dennis Vanden Hull, who did so with the support of all fire departments in the county.

O'Brien County joins Sioux and Plymouth counties as the only ones in the state with open burning bans. According to the order, "open burning constitutes a danger to life or property" during periods of extended dryness. The prohibition may only be rescinded after local officials notify the state fire marshal that conditions have eased.

Those who violate the ban will be subjected to a simple misdemeanor charge. The order does not prohibit a supervised, controlled burn that has been issued a permit by the fire chief of the fire district where the burn will take place, the use of outdoor fireplaces, barbecue grills, properly supervised landfills, or the burning of trash in incinerators or trash burners made of metal, concrete, masonry or heavy one-inch wire mesh with no openings greater than one square inch.