Local fire departments stay prepared as a red-flag warning is issued for majority of the state
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The National Weather Service office in St. Louis is warning of an elevated fire risk until Thusday evening due to breezy winds and dry conditions, leading officials to encourage people to avoid outdoor burning this week.
Cooper County Fire Protection District Chief David Gehm told ABC 17 News operations don't change with the increased risk however, stations are staying prepared.
"We send notice out to all the stations, make sure all their trucks are filled up and all their equipment is fueled up and working properly," Gehm said.
According to the Boone County Fire Protection District, Wednesday and Thursday are expected to be especially concerning, with conditions throughout the week not being favorable for outdoor burning.
Boone County Office of Emergency Management is coordinating with the Columbia Fire Department, Centralia Fire Department and the Boone County Fire Protection District to monitor conditions and ensure readiness.
ABC 17 News also spoke with the Cooper County Fire Protection District and Boonville Fire Department who have joined automatic mutual aid to help assist.
"Everybody's limited on manpower, so with this new agreement, we share a lot of resources in certain areas that butt up to the city, butt to the county, so we try and be prepared in those ways with manpower," Boonville Fire Chief Tim Cooper said.
Gehm, Cooper and Chief Chris Wilhoit with the Howard County Fire Protection District all also reported having tools like leaf blowers and rakes to help respond, with crews also trained in digging ditches or back burning to get ahead of any brush fires.
"Sometimes you're limited on water supply, so you have to resort to old school tactics, manual tactics, raking, shoveling, digging lines, using leaf blowers to help get the fire to go in the direction you would like it to go," Cooper said.
According to the ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team, warm, dry air will lead to less moisture, making vegetation, such as dry grass and branches, easy to catch fire. The breezy winds fan the flames, providing oxygen to the fire and carry embers to create new spot fires that can grow.
The Missouri Department of Public Safety says there are many ways people can help reduce the spread of fires.
When grilling, position the grill far away from siding, deck railing, and away from any leaves and overhanging branches. Do not add charcoal or starter fluid when coals or kindling have already been ignited.
Be extra careful with fire pits and campfires. Consider the risks before lighting the fire, and if you do decide to light it, check the wind direction. Keep a fire extinguisher or garden hose nearby.
Any controlled burns should be reported to local fire departments, including details of when, where and how long the burns will be.
"It's a beautiful day to day. People want to burn their trash and that's when it can run into problems," Gehm said. "A lot of times they'll try and take control of a fire with a garden hose. Something we ask them to call immediately to the fire department, call 911 and get the fire dispatch."
The NWS advises against open burning leaves, brush or debris. Smokers should be extremely careful in extinguishing cigarette and cigar butts completely before disposal. Do not throw away cigarettes from moving vehicles.
Secure trailer chains to prevent them from dragging and creating sparks that could ignite dry grass. If you're driving off-road, use caution as sparks from the vehicle or equipment could come in contact with dry grass and start a fire.
According to the Boone County Fire Protection District, fires that start in these conditions can behave unpredictably and move faster than expected.
People are encouraged to call 911 immediately to report smoke or fire.
