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July 10, 2024Villisca, Iowa |  By: Jeremy Werner

Regulators issue fine in connection with IA fire

fire

VILLISCA, Iowa - State regulators have fined Tyson Means of Villisca $10,000 for illegal fires that destroyed chicken confinement buildings near the city.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issued the penalty after investigating the June 29 incident, where all 10 buildings on the Montgomery Valley Farms property were burned without meeting several legal requirements.

An environmental specialist with the DNR says that the city of Villisca was not notified about the burn, and no asbestos check was conducted beforehand.

Although there are exceptions for burning agricultural structures, these buildings were classified as commercial, requiring an asbestos check and approval from the DNR.

The fires were ignited simultaneously, raising concerns about fire safety and water supply.

The Villisca fire chief was unaware of the burns until later in the evening. Despite no nearby rural homes, a liquid fertilizer tank farm was located close to the site.