GRAVOIS MILLS, Mo. — A homeowner dumping out a burn barrel accidentally ignited a brush fire on Thursday.
The Gravois Fire Protection District received an emergency fire call at 4:40 p.m. on March 17 to a natural cover fire on Majestic Road, located off Lake Road 5-16, in Gravois Mills. Upon arrival firefighters found a natural cover fire quickly spreading through a wooded area. Firefighters immediately began clearing a road and building a back-fire, using a road on the edge of the property as a fire-break.
According to Gravois Fire Protection District Assistant Fire Chief Ron Anselmo, the property owner said he was dumping a burn barrel, thinking the fire was out. Embers ignited nearby leaves, high humidity and dry conditions spread the fire quickly through nearby leaves, debris and timber.
“We will have to keep an eye on the logs because they will burn for days,” Anselmo cautioned.
No structures or people were harmed in the fire.
Due to the dry and high humidity conditions, area fire districts have issued high fire hazardous warnings. Area fire chiefs are requesting citizens not to burn. Call the local fire district to inquire what the burn conditions are on the day you plan to burn.
