Appendix 9A: Sample Prescribed Burn Press Release

Prairie County Engineer
1234 Highway 1
Prairie City, Iowa, 54321
555-123-4567

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2025
Contact: Mike Jones, Prairie County Roadside Manager
555-123-4567
irvm@prairiecounty.iowa.gov

Prescribed Burning in County Roadsides

Prairie County Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management (IRVM) will be conducting prescribed burns in roadsides adjacent to county roads during the next few months. Prescribed burns are an effective resource management tool utilized to discourage the growth of weeds and woody vegetation, while promoting the growth of desired native prairie vegetation in roadsides. All staff members working on prescribed burns are certified in wildland firefighting and take all necessary safety precautions to minimize the risks associated with a prescribed fire. Please use caution when approaching a burn site, as staff members and equipment may be near the road.

Established in 2018, Prairie County Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management cares for roadsides along county roads using a variety of management techniques with sound ecological principles. The IRVM approach centers on planting and maintaining safe, healthy, and functional native prairie vegetation, which reduces erosion, enhances rainfall infiltration, creates habitat for pollinators, nesting birds, and other wildlife, and more. The IRVM approach also includes strategic herbicide application and mowing, and weed and brush control.

Prairie County IRVM is a division of the County Secondary Roads Department of Prairie County. For more information, visit prairiecounty.iowa.gov/IRVM.