(Le Mars) — A large white-grey colored cloud of smoke seen approximately five miles west of Le Mars has gathered a lot of attention. Many people have reported seeing the billows of smoke and have notified the Plymouth County Communications Office, as well as the Le Mars and Merrill Fire Departments.
But, what appears to be a grass field fire that is out of control is actually a controlled burn being coordinated by the Iowa Conservation Corps from Ames and Council Bluffs. Nearly a dozen people have intentionally set the blaze on a tract of ground that is enrolled in the Conservation Reserve program. The group is monitoring the fire, and constantly watching its burn pattern, circling it with All-Terrain Vehicles. The group from the Iowa Conservation Corp are equipped with shovels and are walking along side the flames. Prior to the grassland being set on fire, local farmers used a tillage disk to turn over the
soil and surrounded the intended burn area so it would remain within the designated controlled burn area. The area of the controlled grass fire covers several acres and it extends from county road K-42 to the east to Iris Avenue to the west, and from 190th Street to the north to 200th Street to the south. The fire was intentionally set shortly after 12:00 noon today. Le Mars Assistant Fire Chief Mike Wise confirms the fire is a controlled burn.
