City of Moberly issues burn ban amid weather service fire warning

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Moberly advised residents not to burn anything on Friday, as the area is experiencing conditions that increase the risk of outdoor fires spreading out of control.

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for most of Mid-Missouri on Friday, as the combination of dry vegetation and air, along with high winds, made fires especially dangerous. The alert is in effect from noon to 6 p.m. Friday.

Winds out of the southwest are expected to gust at up to 30 mph.

The City of Moberly said in a news release that Fire Chief Don Ryan made the call to prohibit outdoor burning until the red flag warning expires.

"Even small fires can escalate quickly under today's conditions," the release states.

Boone County firefighters were called to the Sturgeon area for a wildfire that had burned about 5 acres Friday morning.