The risk of wildfires is growing across the Midwest, as harvest begins and drought lingers

Hot and dry weather across the Midwest is creating a ripe situation for wildfires, especially as farmers head into the fields for harvest.
A large fire in a farm field recently brought together firefighters and a dozen farmers to fight the blaze near Emerson in far southwest Iowa.

Brian Hamman, the emergency management director for nearby Montgomery County, estimates the fire burned up to 300 acres.

“It’s so dry, it just takes high wind and a spark, and off it goes,” Hamman said.

Drought is fueling concerns over the risk of wildfires throughout the Midwest. Dennis Todey, director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Midwest Climate Hub, said while grass fires are not uncommon for the Plains states, the fire risk is following on the heels of drought.

“Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, and parts of Illinois are usually wet enough that there is usually just an infield risk,” he said. “However, there is more of a problem due to ongoing drought conditions and the severity of dryness.”

Todey, who is based in Ames, Iowa, said there are always issues when farmers head into the fields for harvest, but now there is a real risk of fires spreading.