Another red flag warning issued as Mid-Missouri fire season continues

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Mid-Missouri residents are asked not to burn anything into Tuesday after the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning due to dry and windy conditions.

This comes just days after large wildfires in Mid-Missouri that forced people from their homes in Boone and Camden counties. The state is also entering extreme weather season with high winds and lightning increasing the risk of brush fires. The City of Columbia Fire Department and Southern Boone and Boone County Fire Protection Districts collectively were called to more than 20 fires since Friday after extreme storms hit the area.

"We're in that season," Jefferson City Fire Department Division Chief Jason Turner said. "It's crucial for us to make sure that we're prepared, that equipment is prepared, that everything is operational and running."

Jefferson City's legal burn season closed on March 1 to reduce fire risk. For yard waste fires, the City of Columbia requires a permit.

To keep up with the increased risk of fires, JCFD also upped staffing in different stations and deployed staff to other parts of the county.

"We have a statewide fire mutual aid system, and we work very closely with the regional coordinators ... during these types of events," Turner said. "Going from a natural cover firefighting mode to a rescue mode, deploying apparatus and assets to other parts of the states for the tornado, that system works great for us."

along with keeping equipment up to date, the JCFD, The City of Columbia Fire Department and the Southern Boone County Fire Protection District also stay up to date with weather conditions and use the statewide system to give updates on conditions in the area.

"Planning is important, preparedness is key, so our people were prepared," CFD Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer said. "They were prepared before they started their shift, they were hydrated and they were they knew what we were walking into because we had that advanced warning."

While stations are more vigilant during red flag days, fire prevention from the community is crucial.

During high-risk days, it's discouraged to burn yard waste or brush. When handling dangerous objects like heavy machinery or a grill, it's recommended to have a fire extinguisher nearby.

Officials also ask people to pay close attention to what they are doing as high winds can knock over a grill or cause a loose cigarette to ignite a large fire.

SBCFPD Chief Colin Wright especially advocates for prevention in areas with a volunteer fire department.

"You don't know if you will have two firefighters or fifty on any given call, half the time, whoever is in charge tries coordinating folks and fighting fire simultaneously, most days, we depended on the junior firefighters to make up most of our personnel on scenes," Wright said.

During red-flag periods, homeowners should also move combustible materials at least 30 yards away from their homes. In emergency scenarios where fires are more likely, fire departments may work based on how well they can protect a home.

"If the homeowner doesn't take the necessary steps, like removing all that debris and combustible material 30 feet from the home itself, we may move on to it and protect a structure that is able to be protected," Schaeffer said.

Schaeffer added it's best for people if they see something, say something.

"Definitely call 911 when you see a fire that's out on the landscape, because a lot of times we have people that just assume that someone else has called," Schaeffer said. "The sooner we can get resources on it, the quicker we can come to a resolution and mitigate the problem."