Author: Allison Jacobs

Eastern Iowa Fireground reported two fires East of Mt. Pleasant yesterday.  At about 3pm, the New London Fire Department, with assist from the Danville Department, responded to a large tire fire in the 8000 block of Bridgeport Road in New London.

At about 9pm last night, a structure fire was reported in 200 block of Washington Street in Middletown.  The Danville FD  responded.

The Outdoor Warning Sirens sounded last night in Henry County because of the threat of over 70 mph winds.  The Henry County Sheriff’s Office reminds citizens that the outdoor sirens are for alerting people who are outdoors.  You should have other ways to keep yourself informed if you are indoors.   Sign up for Alert Iowa by texting HenryIA to 67293 to stay informed of impending severe weather.

Drought conditions in Iowa showed some improvement from last week to this week. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 79 percent of the state is abnormally dry. Last week nearly 73 percent of Iowa was in moderate drought.

Conditions are less severe than they were at this time a year ago when over 20 percent of Iowa was in extreme drought and 56.4 percent was in severe drought.

Currently, Henry, Jefferson, and Washington counties are not experiencing drought conditions.

A case of bird flu has been detected in a commercial flock in Buena Vista County.

This is Iowa’s sixth case of the bird flu detected amongst domestic birds this year.

Governor Kim Reynolds has declared a disaster proclamation for Buena Vista County, effective through April 13th.

This proclamation allows state resources from Iowa Homeland Security, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and other agencies to assist with tracking and monitoring, rapid detection, containment, disposal, and disinfection. The proclamation also waives regulatory provisions related to commercial vehicles responding to affected sites.

The recent HPAI detections in birds do not present an immediate public health concern, and it remains safe to eat poultry products. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian

Multiple Southeast Iowa Fire Departments were dispatched yesterday for grass/field fires, the storm that blew through last night caused some trouble with downs power lines, tree, and sign damage.

According to police reports, the high winds from last night downed some wires, a sign and tree debris at Iris and Monroe Streets.  The Henry County Sheriff’s Office reports that there were power outages on Nature Center Road and downed power lines at Freedom Avenue at Oakland Mills Road and on Salem Road in Hillsboro.  The Winfield Police Department responded to reports of wind damage in the 2500 block of 130^th Street and in the 600 block of W. Highway 78.

The Mt. Pleasant and New London Fire Departments were on scene for a field fire in the 2900 block of Lexington Avenue early Friday afternoon and Mt. Pleasant Fire was called to the 2100 block of 235^th Street later on Friday afternoon for a field fire.  The New London Fire Department also dealt with a grass fire on 160^th Street.  In Wayland, the Wayland Fire Department was out with a field fire in the 1700 block of 335^th Street.  The Winfield Fire Department investigated a fire in the 300 block of N. Oak Street last night.