The state of Iowa has been under quite a few Red Flag Warnings that have been issued by the National Weather Service and now several counties are under their individual burn bans.

According to the National Weather Service, a Red Flag Warning is when weather conditions are favorable for high fire danger. The criteria that is used to issue a Red Flag Warning is dry conditions, low relative humidity and strong winds of at least 15 miles per hour that last for several hours. 

Greene County Sheriff and Jefferson Fire Chief Jack Williams issued a Burn Ban for Greene County on February 29th. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio a Burn Ban means no one is allowed to openly burn across the county due to the very dry conditions that a slight spark could cause widespread fires. He explains the main difference between a Red Flag Warning and a Burn Ban.

“A Burn Ban, you can actually be cited and possibly arrested for starting a fire that gets out of control. A Red Flag Warning is they’re just advising you not to do it (openly burn).”

However, Williams adds that by state code, rural residents are allowed to burn trash in a container and fire pits are allowed during a Burn Ban.