Help stop arson wildfires

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Clinton, Mo. – Wildfires that authorities believe were set by arsonists caused damage and danger in Henry and St. Clair counties in recent weeks, said Josh Shroyer, a Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) resource forester based in Clinton. MDC helps community fire departments battle wildfires. In the past week, 20 fires suspected to have been caused by arson have occurred on public and private land near the Harry S Truman Reservoir in Henry County, Shroyer said.

   Authorities ask that citizens report any suspicious activity that could be related to deliberately set fires. Information can be reported anonymously to the Operation Forest Arson hotline: 800-392-1111. Rewards are available for information leading to arrests and convictions of arsonists.

   Wildfire poses danger to people, structures and wildlife habitat. No injuries or structure loss were reported from the recent fires, Shroyer said. But wildfires have the potential to do great harm and battling blazes in forests and fields costs money and puts people at risk.

   “Wildfire risks the lives of fire fighters and the public,” he said.

   Low humidity and windy conditions have heightened wildfire danger in recent weeks. Plus there is ample fuel on wild lands from dead vegetation or shrubs and trees still mostly dormant from winter.

   More than 1,000 acres have burned in the past week, Shroyer said. In 2014, crews have battled about 50 fires in Henry and St. Clair counties that have burned about 3,000 acres in the Truman Reservoir area.

   For more information on the Operation Forest Arson Hotline: http://mdc.mo.gov/node/3704

MDC encourages people to help prevent wildfires

The main cause of wildfires is improper burning of debris such as trash and brush piles.

JEFFERSON CITY Mo -- A combination of strong winds, low humidity, dry conditions, and warming temperatures this time of year has the potential to create explosive wildfires. Each

year, Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) staff work with fire departments around the state to help suppress thousands of wildfires that can consume tens-of-thousands of acres. 

According to MDC’s Forestry Division, the main cause of wildfires is improper burning of debris such as trash and brush piles. The Department urges landowners, hunters, campers, and others in the outdoors to help prevent wildfires and offers the following tips.  

Outdoor Burning 

• Do not conduct outdoor burning during times when grasses, brush, and other fire fuels are very dry, humidity is low and weather is windy.
• Dry fuel, combined with high temperatures, low humidity, and high winds, makes fire nearly impossible to control. 
• Check with local fire departments regarding burn bans that may be in place, or if there is a “red flag warning.” A red flag warning is issued when there is a high risk of fire spreading rapidly because of low humidity and high winds.
• A person who starts a fire for any reason is responsible for any damage it may cause.
• For more information on using prescribed fire as a land-management tool, visit mdc.mo.gov and search “Prescribed Fire.”

Driving Off Road

• Wildfires can start when fine, dry fuel such as grass comes in contact with catalytic converters on motor vehicles.
• Think twice before driving into and across a grassy field.
• Never park over tall, dry grass or piles of leaves that can touch the underside of a vehicle.
• When driving vehicles off road, regularly inspect the undercarriage to ensure that fuel and brake lines are intact and no oil leaks are apparent.
• Always carry an approved fire extinguisher on vehicles that are used off road.
• Check for the presence of spark arresters on ATV exhausts.

Making a Campfire

• Clear a generous zone around fire rings. When humidity is low and wind is high, debris can become tinder for a stray spark or ember.
• Store unused firewood a good distance from the fire.
• Never use gasoline, kerosene, or other flammable liquid to start a fire.
• Keep campfires small and controllable.
• Keep fire-extinguishing materials, such as a rake, shovel, and bucket of water, close by.
• Never leave a campfire unattended! Extinguish campfires each night and before leaving camp, even for a few moments.

Smokers: Practice Extra Caution

• Extinguish cigarettes completely and safely and dispose of butts responsibly.

Don't Delay Calling for Help!

• Call 911 at the first sign of a fire getting out of control.

 Report Forest Arson

• Many wildfires are set by vandals.
• Help stop arson by calling Operation Forest Arson at 800-392-1111. Callers will remain anonymous and rewards are possible.

DID YOU KNOW: In cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, MDC provided more than $354,000 in grants to 182 volunteer fire departments last year for protective clothing, equipment, and training. The Department also obtained more than $5 million in equipment from federal government programs for volunteer fire departments in the state, and provided wildland fire-suppression training to more than 400 Missouri firefighters.

For more information on preventing wildfires, go online to mdc.mo.gov/node/9409

State Fire Marshal and National Weather Service urge public to avoid any open burning

Image via WikipediaJEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Office of the State Fire Marshal and the National Weather Service are urging extra caution with open burning in Missouri due to low moisture conditions, low humidity and high winds that increase the danger of wildland fires.

“With the current weather conditions in Missouri, there is a real danger of what is believed to be a controlled burn quickly getting out of control,” said Missouri State Fire Marshal Randy Cole. “During these conditions we urge you to refrain from burning leaves or brush for the foreseeable future.”

The National Weather Service has been monitoring conditions and has been in close contact with the Office of the State Fire Marshal. “The weather has been quite dry across Missouri this fall,” said Jon Carney, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in St. Louis. “The dry and occasionally breezy weather pattern is expected to continue for at least the next week.”

Cole said fall and spring are the peak times of year for firefighters to respond to wildland fires that start out as controlled burns. The fires all too often result in property damage, injury and even death. Cole said three people died in February and March in Missouri when controlled burns got out of hand.

Cole urged the following precautions:

·        Check for local burn bans or restrictions before conducting any open burning.
·        Keep fire a minimum of 75 feet from all buildings.
·        Never use gasoline, kerosene or any other flammable liquid to start the fire.
·        Do not leave a fire unattended.
·        Have fire extinguishment materials on hand, including a water supply, shovels and rakes.
·        Be prepared to extinguish your fire if the winds pick up.
·        DO NOT delay a call for help – call the fire department immediately at the first sign of the fire getting out of control.