(Des Moines) — The State Fire Marshal has declared a burn ban for Plymouth County effective as of 12:00 noon on Tuesday, March 1st. Upon investigation, the state fire marshal has determined that conditions in Plymouth County are such that open burning constitutes a danger to life and/or property. It is therefore ordered that no person shall engage in open burning in Plymouth County, except as specifically mentioned in Iowa code 100. 40(3) until such time Dave Schipper, Fire Chief for Le Mars Fire and Rescue Department, representing each fire department within Plymouth County notifies the State Fire Marshal that the dangerous conditions to life and property no longer exists. Notice is hereby given in pursuant to Iowa code 100. 40(2) any violation of this proclamation order is a simple misdemeanor. The burn ban came at the request of the of each of the Plymouth County Fire Departments Association. Within the last couple of days, Le Mars, Oyens, Akron, Hinton and Kingsley have responded to grass and/or field fires. Conditions are dry, and humidity levels have been low, along with winds that have been strong in recent days, has contributed to the issuance of the county-wide fire ban. Plymouth County joins its neighbor to the south, Woodbury County, of having a burn ban declared.
