Family displaced by Wooldridge fire says unkempt grass played a role

WOOLDRIDGE, Mo. (KMIZ)

A family displaced by the Saturday fire in Wooldridge said widespread destruction in the fire could have been avoided.

Jessica Mccomb, her husband and three children returned to the fire site for Gov. Mike Parson's visit, wanting answers like other residents who lost their homes.

"Yes, there was high winds. Yes, it was really bad out here," Mccomb said. "But I think at the scheme of things, it does not take anybody to know that if you if you look around here, everything that burned had high grass. And the things that didn't have high grass were a lot better off."

Mccomb believes the tall, unkempt grass that she said surrounded most of the properties caused the fire to spread quicker.

"Had that grass not been right there on the other side of the road sitting 15 foot tall, had the other grass on the side of the road sitting 15 tall, both of which are up to the residences it wouldn't have caught fire. I feel that way," Mccomb said.

While it is the responsibility of the property owner, Mccomb said some of the property owners weren't doing it and there was no reminder from the Village or Mayor Kelly Murphy.

Governor Parson commented on the issue during a press conference Wednesday.

"We live in an area where we're in a rural community and agriculture is gonna take place you're out here the grass is gonna grow you're in a river bottoms. I mean that's just the nature of what it is it's conservation land you're gonna have a lot of growth out there it's just kind of where we live," Parson said.

Murphy said it is the responsibility of the property owner to cut the grass.

"The landowners themselves (are responsible) because we're not at all allowed to enter their property, I cannot walk on your property, you cannot walk on my property." Murphy said. "I mean we live in Missouri theres trees, brush, leaves, you can see it now."

Mccomb said her and her husband would cut the grass but could only mow certain areas as they were not permitted on private property.

Mccomb said there were also abandoned vehicles and structures that she says were also a safety hazard.

Mayor Murphy said the wind and drought environment caused the fast spread of the fire, and that nothing could have prevented it.

Officials believe a combination of strong winds and dry environment caused the fire to spread so quick.