An Indianola city ordinance states any open burning of yard waste or trash material is prohibited. Bob Soukup with the Indianola Fire Department tells KNIA News as the city has grown over the years, burning yard waste and trash has become dangerous to other property owners and is not worth the risk, however there are still instances when an open fire is allowed.

“You can have a fire for cooking purposes. There has to be food being prepared on it, and it has to be contained with a grate with openings no more than 1-inch square. Anything other than that, burning yard waste, burning trash, any type of cleanup, that’s prohibited.”

Soukup also said many of the fire calls the department responds to during the summer are outdoor fire related or related to children being near open flames or grills.