Fast-moving fire burns 15 acres near Bagnell Dam
LAKE OF OZARKS, Mo. (KMIZ)
A fast-moving wildfire burned about 15 acres of land near Bagnell Dam on the Lake of the Ozarks on Wednesday.
Lake Ozark Fire Protection District firefighters were called to Valley Road, near the dam, at 11:12 a.m., the district says in a news release. Firefighters used the terrain and natural firebreaks to put out the blaze.
Amanda Pike has owned and operated Aman De Nîmes Boutique for the last four years. It’s one of several businesses along the historic Bagnell Dam strip that had a front-row view of a fast-moving wildfire on Wednesday afternoon.
“This is very unusual. I've lived at the lake my entire life and I've never experienced fires like this,” Pike told ABC 17 News. “They're developing a business over here with a pool and a five-story building and I was very concerned that the fire was going to go over there and disrupt all of that.”
Wind gusts of more than 50 miles an hour created some uncertainty about the fire spreading to nearby businesses.
“Wind conditions are extreme even for the spring of Missouri, and they played a significant role in how quickly the fire moved,” Lake Ozark Fire Protection District Chief Jerry Blomberg said.
This building is one of the original buildings here on the strip,” Pike said in reference to Aman De Nîmes Boutique. “It is like shaking like crazy with all the wind. “
Firefighters were monitoring the area Wednesday afternoon, according to the release. No buildings were damaged and no one was injured. Despite their efforts, lingering smoke, and smoldering flames continue to pose a risk in the area.
“The fire behaviors are unpredictable. The moisture content of the ground cover is so low and even the predicted rainfall tonight will probably not impact that significantly,” Blomberg said.
Smoke was still in the area Wednesday afternoon, the fire district wrote.
Some of the land that burned belongs to Ameren Missouri, which operates Bagnell Dam. An Ameren spokesperson said the fire did not affect dam operations.
Camden County has imposed a burn ban until April 1. The lake area remained under a red flag warning for high fire danger on Wednesday.
