Breaking: Multiple Field Fires Burning Near Oelwein

Crews are battling several small field fires near the Oelwein Municipal Airport and authorties are urgently asking onlookers to avoid the area.

The fires are burning in fields along County Road T-13 (Fairbank-Amish Blvd.) west of the city, according to Trooper Mark Sigwarth of the Iowa State Patrol.

"A number of fire departments are trying to do their work, and they're struggling because there are so many onlookers," Sigwarth said. "We're asking people to stay out of the way and let firefighters do their job."

The fires apparently started around 2 p.m. Law enforcement officers are currently on the scene, trying to keep traffic out of the area.

According to Sigwarth, there are a number of small fires that keep getting bigger. High winds are fanning the flames, spreading them quickly through the fields.

"There is some concern that the flames could start jumping roads," Sigwarth said.

A red flag warning is currently posted for more than half of Iowa's 99 counties due to critical fire weather conditions. The combination of 20 to 30 mile-per-hour winds with gusts as high as 40, low humidity, warm temperatures and dry grasses have created the threat for fast-moving field fires.

Area counties currently under a red flag warning are Black Hawk, Bremer, Butler, Franklin, Grundy, Hardin, Marshall and Tama through 7 p.m. Monday (Oct. 19, 2015).

Burning is currently prohibited in Fayette County, where firefighters are battling the field fires. Burns bans are also posted for 11 other Iowa counties, including Bremer, Buchanan, Chickasaw and Franklin counties.