IOWA — On Monday, three new burn bans went into effect, bringing the total number of affected counties in Iowa to ten.
The three new bans include Clinton, Scott, and Muscatine counties. The majority of the burn bans went into effect in early February and include: Clarke, Crawford, Decatur, Shelby, Union, Warren, and Wayne counties.
The bans come as Iowa is experiencing a “snow drought,” defined as a period of abnormally low snowpack for the time of year, and can be either “dry” or “warm” depending on whether the drought is the result of below normal precipitation or a lack of snow accumulation due to warm temperatures. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor’s most recent map, much of southern and central Iowa, as well as areas in eastern and northwest Iowa, are listed as abnormally dry.
Mayors around the Metro: Courtney Clarke, Waukee
Fire crews across the state have been battling grass and field fires as a result of the dry conditions. Last Monday, the Afton Fire Volunteer Department, the Creston Fire Department, and others battled a fire that burned roughly 100 acres and left one firefighter with injuries…