Sioux County Emergency Management is reminding residents to notify dispatch before conducting a controlled burn.
Emergency Management officials say local fire departments respond each year to reports of smoke that ultimately turn out to be planned burns that were never reported. Even a relatively small fire can prompt a full emergency response when dispatchers and first responders do not know it was intentionally set.
That response could include fire engines from multiple departments traveling at emergency speeds, ambulances being placed on standby, and law enforcement officers responding to investigate. Sioux County EMA says an incident can also cause 40 to 50 volunteer firefighters to leave their jobs, families, and other responsibilities because they believe a real emergency is underway.
Officials say those calls unnecessarily place millions of dollars in emergency equipment on the road, consume fuel and other resources, and increase the risk of traffic accidents. They can also leave communities with fewer emergency personnel available if another incident occurs at the same time.
Residents should notify Sioux County Dispatch before burning brush, trees, leaves, crop residue, burn piles, old barns, outbuildings, or other materials that could produce visible smoke or flames.
Planned burns can be reported by calling Sioux County Dispatch at 712-737-3307 before the fire is started.
Emergency Management officials say the advance notice allows dispatchers to verify reports of smoke and potentially prevent an unnecessarily large-scale response.
