Iowa DNR Admits Prescribed Burn Protocol Wasn’t Followed

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says it failed to follow protocol during a prescribed burn that spread and damaged some properties in Benton County.

The department says officials failed to contact the National Weather Service about conditions for Benton County for Friday, the day of the burn. DNR also failed to contact adjacent residents and others in the area about the dispersing smoke.

DNR Director Chuck Gipp says a full investigation of the fire will be conducted.

Officials say shifting winds caused the prescribed fire to be reignited after it was extinguished. It jumped to adjoining properties to the east. Local responders were called in to help control it.

The department conducts prescribed burns to help manage native grasses and wildflowers.