OTTUMWA —
After 49 days, Wapello County’s burn ban has finally been lifted.
The state fire marshal discontinued the burn ban as of noon Monday, which has been in effect since July 9.
As temperatures soared and rain was nowhere to be found during this summer’s drought, Wapello County Emergency Management Coordinator Josh Stevens spoke to area fire chiefs and decided to place the county under a burn ban.
“I contact all the fire chiefs that have fire departments in Wapello County or respond here,” Stevens said. “I take a majority vote from those fire chiefs and process the paperwork to the state, who actually issues the ban.”
All eight fire departments voted unanimously to lift the burn ban.
“Last week we talked about it, but there wasn’t enough precipitation,” Stevens said. “But over the weekend we received enough to make folks more comfortable with lifting the burn ban.”
With 2.99 inches of rain so far this month, the area is improving, though it still sits well below the 4.61 inches of rain that falls on average in August.
It’s unusual for a burn ban to go on this long, Stevens said.
“Since I’ve been here we haven’t had a burn ban on for that long,” he said. “Of course we haven’t seen drought conditions like these for years. It can be this hot but as long as we get rain once in awhile, it’s not a big deal. This lack of precipitation fostered an evironment where simple things were igniting fires.”
Ottumwa residents are reminded that the only materials that can legally be disposed of by burning are yard waste, such as leaves and branches. Burning trash, garbage, household or commercial solid waste, recyclable materials, plastics, furniture, tires, appliances, building materials and waste oil is always unlawful in the city.
Residents who choose to burn yard waste are reminded that the state fire code requires that outdoor fires must be under control and attended at all times and adequate means for extinguishing must be readily available.
If a complaint about the smoke is filed, the Ottumwa Fire Department will investigate the source and, if necessary, put out the fire and issue a civil citation.
Ottumwa and other municipalities in the county have ordinances regarding burning. In unincorporated areas of the county, Stevens said residents can return to normal burning, since many burn as a result of tree clearing and some burn their trash as opposed to having it picked up.
“People are allowed to burn once again, but being cautious is still recommended,” Stevens said.
Jefferson County’s burn ban was also lifted Monday.
Local News
August 27, 2012
Burn ban lifted for Wapello County
Area fire chiefs voted unanimously to lift burn ban
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