FORT MADISON (WGEM) - Unusually dry conditions throughout the Tri-States has not prevented Fort Madison from lifting their current burn ban.

Fire Chief Chad Hannum said he is pausing the city’s ban from Oct. 20 to Nov. 23 so that residents can burn leaves.

Usually, residents need a permit to burn in city limits, but due to the excessive number of leaves falling, Hannum is allowing open burning.

“People have to get a burning permit most generally all the time but of course in the fall of the year there’s a tremendous amount of leaves that fall and it becomes a problem. So, to help alleviate that problem, we just have about a four-week period every fall where we do an open burning,” said Hannum.

He said there are some things residents can do so fires do not get out of control.

“They can

See Full Page