Wildfire in Iowa
Every wildfire event the National Weather Service has filed in Iowa, year by year, with the most significant episodes. A fire burning in wildland vegetation, with its acreage and damage where known.
The most significant on the map
The most significant wildfire episodes in Iowa.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The record
- Events
- 22
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 7
- Damage
- $1.5 million
Every year
The most significant
Ranked by deaths, injuries, damage and size together.
- Wildfire in Iowa, March 6, 2005Southwest winds of 25 to 45 mph spread a wildfire across rural Pottawattamie east of Oakland and Carson. The blaze swept across 4,000 acres, destroyed 4 homes and many outbuildings, and left about a dozen people homeless. Total damage was reported at one million dollars.
- Wildfire in Iowa, October 11, 2020Drought conditions worsened early in the month due to very warm temperatures and lack of precipitation.
- Wildfire in Iowa, September 29, 2011Numerous wildfires broke out in northwest Iowa during the late morning and afternoon of September 29th. The fires started and spread under conditions of strong winds, low relative humidity, and dry vegetation due to a preceding extended period of dry weather.
- Wildfire in Iowa, October 17, 2024Harvest equipment ignited a fire a mile to the west-northwest of Henderson. The fire was ignited near the intersection of Brothers Avenue and 380th Street. The fire burned 20 acres and destroyed farm equipment.
- Wildfire in Iowa, July 22, 2012A large wildfire occurred near Osceola in Clarke County. Over 100 acres were burned with one firefighter injured. Areas burned included pasture, woodland areas, and corn crops. Fire departments were called from Warren, Clarke, and Madison Counties.
- Wildfire and High Wind in Iowa, April 23, 2022Strong low pressure developed across central South Dakota on Saturday, which moved slowly toward northern Minnesota by Sunday morning.
- Wildfire in Iowa, April 13, 2023Early to mid April in Iowa was marked by exceptionally dry, warm, and breezy conditions.
- Wildfire in Iowa, March 28, 2026Critical fire weather conditions allowed a grass fire to rapidly spread across portions of Woodbury County from near Bronson to Lawton, IA during the afternoon and evening of March 28th.
- Wildfire in Iowa, October 4 to 7, 2011Numerous wildfires were reported in at least 5 counties in northwest Iowa during the four day period. Warm and dry weather, strong winds, and dry vegetation due to extended dry weather preceding this time contributed to the fires starting and spreading.
- Wildfire in Iowa, September 27, 2012Several farm fires and grass fires were reported during the afternoon in Osceola, O'Brien, Clay, and Buena Vista Counties under very dry conditions and strong winds.
- Wildfire in Iowa, October 12, 2015Following dry weather of nearly one month, a period of rather widespread and above normal occurrence of agricultural wildfires corresponded to the period of Fall harvest.
- Wildfire in Iowa, November 25, 2017A grass fire occurred near Grinnell, IA.
More
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.