Northwest Iowa — The dry conditions, relatively warm temperatures, strong winds, and low relative humidity values have meant a perfect storm for fires in northwest Iowa.
The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls issued a Red Flag Warning for wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect until 8:00 p.m. this evening. It’s for people in Lyon, Osceola, Dickinson, Sioux, O`Brien, Clay, Plymouth, Cherokee, Buena Vista, Woodbury, and Ida counties in Iowa; and Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Cottonwood, Nobles, Jackson, Pipestone, and Rock counties in Minnesota.
The weather service says northwest winds will blow at 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph, and relative humidity will be as low as 20 percent.
Weather service officials tell us any fire that develops will catch and spread quickly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.
There were several grass and brush fires reported on Wednesday afternoon. Near the Lyon/Sioux county line north of Hull, a number of grass fires were reported. Hull, Rock Valley, and Boyden firefighters responded. The Doon and Rock Rapids fire departments fought a field fire near a large machine shed, almost equidistant from Doon, George, and Hull. The Rock Valley Fire Department was called to cornstalk bales on fire west-southwest of Rock Valley, and on Wednesday morning, the Sioux Center firefighters were sent to a brush fire near Greenworld.
