At the request of metro area fire chiefs, the Linn County Board of Supervisors today (August 25) reinstated the burn ban in the half-mile buffer zone around the cities of Cedar Rapids, Marion, Hiawatha, and unincorporated Linn County. This means open burning is now banned on all properties within that half-mile buffer zone due to the dry conditions and piles of dry vegetation that is extremely ignitable.
Burn permit requirements continue to be deferred in unincorporated Linn County through September 30, 2020, allowing for open burning of storm related landscape waste, including trees and tree trimmings in unincorporated Linn County outside of the city limits of Cedar Rapids, Marion, and Hiawatha. No open burning permits are required during the enforcement discretion period. Demolition waste from damaged structures must be separated from the landscape waste and sent to an approved landfill for proper disposal. A landowner may only burn organic materials that originated from their property.
The following conditions must be followed to help limit adverse air quality impacts and reduce risk to surrounding property when burning in unincorporated Linn County:
- Burning is to be conducted during daylight hours only (1/2 hour after sunrise until ½ hour before sunset).
- Fires must be attended at all times during the burning.
- Burning shall not be conducted when wind speeds exceed 15 mph.
- Maximize the separation distance from the fire to any structure or combustible materials.
- Have a plan for fire extinguishment, such as a garden hose connected to a water outlet that is long enough to reach the fire.
Linn County Public Health reminds the public that it is illegal to burn waste, including storm debris, within the city limits of Cedar Rapids, Marion, and Hiawatha. Please contact your city hall for additional information regarding local open burning ordinances.
In addition to open burning, residents of unincorporated Linn County have other options to dispose of organic storm debris. Linn County will remove organic storm debris from rural residents’ right-of-ways. Rural residents may also drop off organic storm debris at four Linn County sites at no charge. Linn County announced those updated locations on August 24.
These sites are open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for resident of unincorporated Linn County
County Home Road
1888 County Home Rd
Former Abbe home location
Mount Vernon Secondary Road Shop
788 Cedar River Road
Mount Vernon
Whittier Secondary Road Shop
721 County Home Road
Springville
Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Center
10260 Morris Hills Rd
Toddville
Visit LinnCounty.org/Storm for more storm-related information.