Several area counties are now under burning bans as dry, breezy conditions coupled with low humidity continue for much of Minnesota and northern Iowa.

The Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office issued a temporary burning ban just before 9 a.m. Wednesday, which includes any open burning.

A Sheriff’s Office news release stated no new burning permits would be issued until further notice.

The Iowa State Fire Marshal issued a proclamation prohibiting open burning in Winnebago County, Iowa, effective at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.

“Upon investigation, the fire marshal finds that conditions in Winnebago County are such that open burning constitutes a danger to life or property,” according to the proclamation.

A burning ban has been in effect in Faribault County since Oct. 3 and in Waseca County since Sept. 12. Mower County issued a ban Tuesday afternoon.

As of Wednesday afternoon, a ban had not been issued in Worth County, Iowa.

The bans come as the National Weather Service on Wednesday morning issued a “red flag warning” for much of the area, indicating critical fire conditions. The warning continues through today.

It admonished people to use extreme caution if outdoors and using anything that could result in a spark that could start a fire.

“Fires could become dangerous and fast-moving in a short period of time due to the gusty winds and low humidity,” the warning states.

Austin firefighters battled a fire in a soybean field Wednesday afternoon for more than an hour. The fire started in a combine and spread to the field.

No one was injured.