LAKE OF THE OZARKS, Mo. — Fire activity at the Lake of the Ozarks has been intense the past few weeks. Most of these fires were caused by citizens negligently burning in hazardous conditions. “Spring wildland fire season has begun with a vengeance,” Gravois Fire Protection District Fire Chief Ed Hancock reports. “The warmer temperatures, low humidity and gusty winds have caused rapid and dangerous fire spread, quickly endangering anything and anyone in the fires path.”
“Fires that occur in these conditions often require a large number of apparatus and personnel to control, and they are often difficult to keep from reigniting. Many times, all of our lake area departments are busy during these conditions and it becomes more difficult to quickly get mutual aid resources needed to assist with a working fire, or to help respond to additional calls while crews are working on a natural cover fire.”
Chief Hancock requests citizens pay attention to the weather and the fire advisories issued by local fire departments. “When humidity is low or when windy, do not burn,” Chief Hancock emphasized. The district has been very busy fighting fires during the past two weeks.
Last week, on Monday, Feb. 29, GFPD firefighters were dispatched to a natural cover fire at 10:25 a.m. to 14115 Anchorage Rd in Gravois Mills. Upon arrival, units found a controlled burn that had escaped control and extended into the woodland. Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames with no incidents. Approximately three acres burned. The district responded with four firefighters and four apparatus.
GFPD firefighters were dispatched at 10:17 a.m. on Wednesday, March 2 to a possible natural cover fire on Highway 135, near Peter Pan Road. Upon arrival, units found a control burn with the land owner present and taking care of the fire. No assistance from the department was needed. The district responded with seven firefighters and five apparatus.
Over the weekend
GFPD received an emergency fire call at 12:21 p.m. on Saturday, March 5 to Highway 135, approximately .5 miles from Cup Tree Road. Upon arrival, firefighters discovered a natural cover fire and were able to extinguish the fire with no incidents. The cause of fire was again caused by a controlled burn that escaped control. Approximately three acres burned. The district responded with three apparatus and six personnel.
The district responded, 33 minutes later, at 12:54, to a natural cover fire, located at 14662 Anchorage Road. The fire was rapidly spreading and endangering structures. The Versailles Rural Fire District was called for mutual aid. According to GFPD Fire Chief Ed Hancock, a resident that was trying to fight the fire received burns and was transported to the hospital by ambulance, before firefighters arrived on the scene.
Firefighters built a fire line using hoses and rakes and were able bring the fire under control. One shed burned. Due to the nature of the fire, the cause of the fire is under investigation. GFPD responded with six firefighters and five apparatus. Versailles Rural responded with four firefighters and one apparatus.
Firefighters were once again dispatched that evening at 5:34 p.m. to a natural cover fire at the same location, near 14662 Anchorage Road. The embers from the previous fire had crossed control lines, igniting a second and new fire. One shed was damage, but firefighters were able to save a residence. The district responded with five firefighters and four apparatus.
On the evening of Sunday, March 6, the GFPD was toned out to a fire on Troutdale Road. A controlled burn once again had escaped control. Firefighters built a fire line and brought the blaze under control. Firefighters were able to protect a residence near the fire and it was unharmed. Two acres, trash and a junk car were burned. The district responded with six personnel and five apparatus.
Later that evening on Sunday, March 6, GFPD firefighters were dispatched to a fire on Highway 5 near the Soap Creek Bridge. An unattended burning trash pile had ignited a natural cover fire. Firefighters built a fire line with rakes, water and blowers and extinguished the fire. Three acres, one boat and other debris were burned. A nearby residence/business was protected and unharmed. The district responded with four firefighters and two apparatus.
Other emergency calls
The majority of call volume for GFPD personnel are EMS and motor vehicle crash emergency calls.
At 4:20 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1, GFPD firefighters responded to a personal emergency alert device activated in the area of King Road off Highway P. Personnel located the person and determined it was a false alarm and no assistance was needed.
GFPD personnel responded at 3:14 and 6:43 p.m. on Wednesday, March 2 to a life assist service call at a private residence on Bogey Lane. No medical care was needed on both calls.
GFPD personnel responded to three emergency medical calls on Sunday, Feb. 28, one on Monday, Feb. 29, five on Tuesday, March 1, one on Thursday, March 3 and one emergency medical call on Saturday, March 5.
