- Joined
- Mar 11, 2001
- Messages
- 70,011
- Reaction score
- 1,007
Fire risk high in northwestern Missouri
MDC
March 2003
Conservation officials recommend extreme caution when burning rubbish or other activities that could spark grass or other natural cover fires.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo.--Lives could be lost and people's homes and other property could go up in smoke unless people in northwestern Missouri are especially careful with fire this spring.
The United States Department of Agriculture's "U.S. Drought Monitor" published Feb. 27 shows "extreme drought" conditions in the area bounded on the east by Mercer, Grundy, Linn and Chariton counties and on the south by Carroll, Ray and Clay counties. Drought ranging from "severe" to "abnormally dry" prevailed throughout the northwestern two thirds of the state.
The Missouri Department of Conservation says the drought carries a significantly increased danger of wildfire.
"Missouri's highest risk of natural cover fires almost always comes in the early spring," said Forestry Education Coordinator Bruce Palmer. "We have lots of dry grass and leaves on the ground at that time of year. Dry, windy weather and low rainfall creates conditions favorable for wildfire. The danger drops off quickly as trees leaf out and grass greens up, but until then it's likely to be touch-and-go in northern Missouri, especially in the northwest"
Palmer said northern Missouri has been dryer than normal for more than a year. "Some parts of the state's northwest corner have hardly seen a drop of rain or a snowflake in months," he said. "Under conditions like this, an untended fire or a carelessly discarded cigarette can touch off a blaze that costs thousands of dollars to fight and may destroy homes, or even cost people's lives."
Palmer noted that while the danger of wildfires is particularly serious in northwest Missouri this spring, the rest of the state is vulnerable also. He said most wildfires get started unintentionally when someone leaves burning rubbish unattended or when a sudden gust of wind carries embers to tinder-dry fields or forests. However, a significant number of Missouri's wildfires are the work of arsonists. He said motives for setting fires range from simple mischief to smoldering resentments against neighbors. It is enough of a problem that the Conservation Department has set up a hot line for people to report suspicious wildfires.
"We call the hot line Operation Forest Arson," said Palmer. "Almost all the arsonists we catch every year are turned in by people who don=t take kindly to having their property endangered.@
Operation Forest Arson, cosponsored by the Conservation Department and the Conservation Federation of Missouri, allows citizens to call toll-free 24 hours a day to report arsonists. An anonymous call to 800/392-1111 is all it takes.
ASetting brush fires isn't just a prank,@ said Palmer. AFirefighters put their lives in danger fighting these fires. People lose their homes, and natural-cover fires cause enormous losses of private and government resources. Everyone should be watching for chances to stop it.@
Palmer offered the following advice to avoid starting a wildfire accidentally:
--If you must burn, pick an overcast day when winds are calm and the humidity is high.
--Notify local fire officials when you intend to burn.
--Burn before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
--After burning, check several times to ensure the fire is out.
--Keep water, rakes, wet gunny sacks and other firefighting tools at hand when burning.
--Call fire officials immediately if a fire escapes.
--Ask your neighbors not to burn on dry, windy days.
--Teach your children to be safe with fire.
--Don=t burn brush piles. They make great wildlife habitat and will naturally decay in two to five years.
- Jim Low -
MDC
March 2003
Conservation officials recommend extreme caution when burning rubbish or other activities that could spark grass or other natural cover fires.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo.--Lives could be lost and people's homes and other property could go up in smoke unless people in northwestern Missouri are especially careful with fire this spring.
The United States Department of Agriculture's "U.S. Drought Monitor" published Feb. 27 shows "extreme drought" conditions in the area bounded on the east by Mercer, Grundy, Linn and Chariton counties and on the south by Carroll, Ray and Clay counties. Drought ranging from "severe" to "abnormally dry" prevailed throughout the northwestern two thirds of the state.
The Missouri Department of Conservation says the drought carries a significantly increased danger of wildfire.
"Missouri's highest risk of natural cover fires almost always comes in the early spring," said Forestry Education Coordinator Bruce Palmer. "We have lots of dry grass and leaves on the ground at that time of year. Dry, windy weather and low rainfall creates conditions favorable for wildfire. The danger drops off quickly as trees leaf out and grass greens up, but until then it's likely to be touch-and-go in northern Missouri, especially in the northwest"
Palmer said northern Missouri has been dryer than normal for more than a year. "Some parts of the state's northwest corner have hardly seen a drop of rain or a snowflake in months," he said. "Under conditions like this, an untended fire or a carelessly discarded cigarette can touch off a blaze that costs thousands of dollars to fight and may destroy homes, or even cost people's lives."
Palmer noted that while the danger of wildfires is particularly serious in northwest Missouri this spring, the rest of the state is vulnerable also. He said most wildfires get started unintentionally when someone leaves burning rubbish unattended or when a sudden gust of wind carries embers to tinder-dry fields or forests. However, a significant number of Missouri's wildfires are the work of arsonists. He said motives for setting fires range from simple mischief to smoldering resentments against neighbors. It is enough of a problem that the Conservation Department has set up a hot line for people to report suspicious wildfires.
"We call the hot line Operation Forest Arson," said Palmer. "Almost all the arsonists we catch every year are turned in by people who don=t take kindly to having their property endangered.@
Operation Forest Arson, cosponsored by the Conservation Department and the Conservation Federation of Missouri, allows citizens to call toll-free 24 hours a day to report arsonists. An anonymous call to 800/392-1111 is all it takes.
ASetting brush fires isn't just a prank,@ said Palmer. AFirefighters put their lives in danger fighting these fires. People lose their homes, and natural-cover fires cause enormous losses of private and government resources. Everyone should be watching for chances to stop it.@
Palmer offered the following advice to avoid starting a wildfire accidentally:
--If you must burn, pick an overcast day when winds are calm and the humidity is high.
--Notify local fire officials when you intend to burn.
--Burn before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
--After burning, check several times to ensure the fire is out.
--Keep water, rakes, wet gunny sacks and other firefighting tools at hand when burning.
--Call fire officials immediately if a fire escapes.
--Ask your neighbors not to burn on dry, windy days.
--Teach your children to be safe with fire.
--Don=t burn brush piles. They make great wildlife habitat and will naturally decay in two to five years.
- Jim Low -
