March 19th – On the morning of March 5, 2012, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) responded to a multi-vehicle accident with fuel spills on U.S. Highway 20 east of Webster City. Upon arrival, DNR environmental specialists were made aware of and inspected a hay fire on farm ground south of the highway. At the time of the inspection, it was determined that the hay fire did not involve the burning of prohibited items. Responding to media inquiries on March 6, the DNR indicated that no enforcement action would be taken.
After subsequent discussions on March 8 with local firefighters who were on the scene, it was determined that there was a second fire burning on the morning of March 5 approximately half a mile north of the hay fire and north of U.S. Highway 20. During a follow-up investigation on March 8, the DNR determined that there had been a previous fire north of U.S. Highway 20 that contained the remains of at least four burned tires, a violation of Iowa’s Open Burning Rule. As a result, a Notice of Violation for Unlawful Tire Burning has been issued to Mark E. Hild of rural Webster City.
