(Undated)– Area fire departments are hoping predictions for a late winter storm come true.
Arnolds Park-Okoboji Fire Chief Steve Dulin says the tender dry vegetation is resulting in a very high grass fire index. He’s urging everyone to refrain from open burning until after we get some measurable precipitation. If you must burn right now, Dulin recommends you have a garden hose nearby and that you keep a close eye on it.
Although everyone thinks grass fires don’t result in that much property damage, Dulin says they are the source of the highest number of work-related injuries, and he says it takes a tremendous amount of manpower to put them out.
Many area fire departments have battled grass fires in recent days. So far, they’ve all been minor. Most have been caused by trash fires that got out of hand. That was the case today (Wed.) for the Fostoria Fire Department. They responded to a fire that got out of hand and spread to some C-R-P land just off 260th Avenue in Clay county. Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish it. No structures were threatened and no injuries were reported.
The National Weather Service says a late winter storm is likely to bring some significant snow to the area Thursday and Thursday night. A winter storm watch has been issued for the area.
