Wildfires risk in Iowa

The burn ban sign is up again on Highway 30 outside Ames. It's mid-October, the corn is off, and the ditch grass is dry enough to catch from a hot exhaust pipe. That's the version of wildfire most Iowans actually face — not a wall of flame through a subdivision, but a fast grass fire running along a fence line toward a barn or a back deck.

Why Iowa looks like this

Iowa is not California or Colorado. FEMA's National Risk Index gives most Iowa counties a low wildfire risk — the statewide rating is 1 out of 5. But low doesn't mean zero. The state has pockets where fuel, wind, and people line up: the Loess Hills along the Missouri River in Pottawattamie, Harrison, Monona, and Woodbury counties; the steep timber of the Driftless Area in Allamakee and Clayton counties; and the grassy fringe of fast-growing metros like Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Davenport. In a dry year, a field fire can start from a combine bearing, a dragging chain, or a cigarette out a window. The U.S. Drought Monitor is your best clue for when that risk spikes. When moderate drought covers central Iowa, those fires move faster than you'd think.

Most Iowa wildfires are human-caused and small — a few acres, maybe a few dozen. They rarely make national news. But if your house sits on the edge of a grassy lot or a timbered ravine, a small fire can still take your siding, your deck, or your outbuildings. Wind is the multiplier. A 20 mph gust in a dry October turns a ditch fire into a fence-line race.

Insurance gaps people miss

Here's the good news: fire is a covered peril on standard homeowners, renters, and condo policies. Unlike flood — which is excluded and needs a separate NFIP or private flood policy — you don't need a special wildfire rider in Iowa. So the gap isn't whether fire is covered. It's whether you have enough coverage.

Three things catch people. First, detached structures — barns, sheds, detached garages, and fences — often have a sublimit, usually a percentage of your dwelling coverage. If you've got a $200,000 house, you might have only $20,000 for other structures. A long fence or a big shop can blow past that. Second, additional living expenses (ALE) covers hotels and meals if your home is uninhabitable after a fire. Check your limit; many policies cap it at 20% of dwelling coverage, and that can run out fast. Third, if you run a business from home, your business equipment and inventory may not be covered by your homeowners policy. Renters: your landlord's policy covers the building, not your stuff. Renters insurance is cheap and covers fire.

If I had one call to make, it would be to my agent to confirm my other-structures limit and my ALE cap.

A practical weekend plan

You don't need a contractor. You need a rake, a hose, and a couple of hours. Start with the first five feet around your foundation — that's where embers land. Clear leaves, pine needles, and mulch. Move firewood, propane tanks, and gas cans at least 30 feet from the house. Clean your gutters. If you have a wood shake roof, you have a bigger problem; most Iowa roofs are asphalt, which is more forgiving. Check your siding for gaps where embers can slip behind. Keep your gravel driveway clear of dry grass. And sign up for alerts from Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Then make a go-bag: documents, medications, phone charger, water, and a leash for the dog. If a field fire is heading your way, you'll have ten minutes, not two hours. Finally, talk to your neighbor about burn barrels and open burning. In many Iowa counties, a burn ban is a phone call away — and one careless barrel fire can take out a whole block of rural acreages.

If you only do one thing this weekend: clear the dry stuff within 5 feet of your house. That's the highest-return hour you'll spend.

Questions we get

Does Iowa even have a wildfire season?

Yes, but it's not a single season. The risk spikes in early spring before green-up and again in fall after harvest, especially when the U.S. Drought Monitor shows dry conditions. Winter can bring grass fires too if there's no snow cover and the wind is up. The state doesn't have a formal "fire season" like Montana, but the burn bans tell the story.

Will my Iowa homeowners insurance cover a grass fire that damages my fence?

Usually yes, because fire is a covered peril. But fences are often lumped into "other structures" with a sublimit. If your fence is worth more than that limit, you'll be paying out of pocket for the difference. Take photos of your fence and outbuildings now, and check your policy's other-structures line before you need it.

What's the biggest wildfire risk for a house in Iowa?

It's not a forest fire. It's an ember or a spark from a nearby field fire or burn barrel that lands on dry mulch, a wood pile, or a cedar shake roof. The Loess Hills and the Driftless Area have more continuous fuel, but even a suburban lot in West Des Moines can catch from a dry ditch fire if the wind is up. Distance from fuel is your best defense.

Official maps and agencies

Don't take our word for it. These are the sources we use.

• Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management — state alerts and burn ban info.
• National Interagency Fire Center — national wildfire situation reports.
• Ready.gov – Wildfires — preparedness steps for your household.
• US Forest Service – Fire — fire management and research.