Neighbor arrested during Boone County wildfire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A neighbor of a salvage yard that burned in a wildfire in northern Boone County on Wednesday was arrested at the scene.

Donald R. Jourdan, 76, was arrested on Route Z near Centralia on suspicion of resisting arrest and obstructing government operations as Boone County firefighters worked to extinguish a fire in the salvage yard.

Firefighters were at the scene for several hours Wednesday after the fire started amid dry, windy conditions. Fighting the fire, which started when debris from a rubbish fire was carried on the wind to the salvage yard, was complicated by combustible materials such as gas and tires on the property, firefighters said.

Jourdan cursed at a firefighter and entered the fire area, a Boone County Sheriff's Office spokesman said. He also tried to remove a fire hose from a truck, Capt. Brian Leer said.

Jourdan later went back into the fire area to move his property after a deputy escorted him out, Leer said. Jourdan's actions distracted the firefighters from their job, Leer said.

No one was injured in the fire, which temporarily shut down Route Z.

Jourdan posted bond Wednesday. Charges have not been filed.