Fire reported south of highway US-218, cause yet to be confirmed

With Johnson County under a red flag warning, Oxford, Tiffin, Amana, and North English fire departments were on the scene.

Madelyn Johnson, News Reporter

February 18, 2026

Gabby Drees

An Amana firefighter responds to a brush fire west of U.S. Highway 218, south of I-80, in the Iowa City area on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. The cause of the fire is still unknown. (Gabby Drees/The Daily Iowan)

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

A fire was reported on Wednesday afternoon south of US-218 on Ivy Road SW, bringing local fire departments from Amana, Oxford, Tiffin, and North English to the scene. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, according to the Iowa City Fire Department.

The fire produced black clouds of smoke, creating poor visibility in the surrounding area. Officers blocked Ivy Road SW around 4 p.m Wednesday afternoon.

University of Iowa students reported seeing a cloud of smoke making its way over Iowa City, with students taking pictures of the smoke outside of Mayflower Residence Hall.

Johnson County was under a wind advisory this afternoon, ending at 6 p.m Wednesday. Johnson County is also under a red flag warning, meaning any fire that could develop will quickly spread out of control, according to the National Weather Service.

A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures may contribute to extreme fire behavior. The National Weather Service reported winds between 25 and 30 miles per hour, with wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour. Relative humidity on Wednesday hovered at 15 percent. The red flag warning will be in effect until 8 p.m Wednesday.

According to MidAmerican Energy Company, over 500 customers in the area surrounding the fire lost power.