Tags
burn-outs, Dora MO, Dora Volunteer Fire Department, firefighters, forest fire, Jody Eberly, lightning, Mark Twain National Forest, North Fork River, Ozark County MO, Potato Cave, wildfire
Extreme fire activity at the Eastend, 6 miles south of Bixby, Mo., Saturday. (USDA Forest Service photo by Shawn Maijala)
The wildfire cause is under investigation, but it appears likely that it was started Friday by a lightning strike, according to a news release issued by the Mark Twain National Forest headquarters in Rolla, Mo.
Currently burning in about 400 acres, the wildfire is in an area of heavy blowdown fuels left from a 2010 tornado. “Heavy fuels, steep and rough terrain, and hot, dry weather conditions are making this fire difficult to control,” said Mark Twain National Forest Fire Manager Jody Eberly.
Firefighters have created a containment line on county and private roads and across National Forest lands. The fire is all on National Forest lands but is expected to burn onto some private lands as part of the suppression strategy. The Incident Commander is working with affected landowners.
A former Hill ’n Holler staff writer who lives near Dora this afternoon said, “According to the news, no homes are in danger, but one of our friends said he had to hose down his roof last night due to ashes falling from the sky onto his roof.”
National Forest firefighters are being assisted by the Dora Volunteer Fire Department. The Dora VFD fire chief, Monte Shipley, has said that 1,100 acres could be burned before the fire is out.
Helicopters dropping water are being used to help fight the blaze.
Canoeing on the North Fork River is not affected at the current time. Outfitters are still able to use traditional put-in and take-out points.
Tonight, there may be a burn-out operation occurring along County Roads 365 and 368. Eberly said about a mile section of each of these roads may be closed for 1-4 hours during that burn-out operation to ensure firefighter and public safety.
“Full containment of this wildfire is not expected until later this week,” Eberly said. Residents can expect to see active fire and smell or see smoke in this area for several days.
“Please do not travel to the fire vicinity if you do not live in the area,” Eberly said. “This is potentially a dangerous situation for firefighters and the public.”
Another Mark Twain National Forest fire, in Iron County, started last Thursday morning about 6 miles east of Bixby, Mo., and has affected 500-600 acres.
Summer 2012 is setting a record pace for Missouri wildfires and the forecast is for more through fall, according to another statement by the Mark Twain National Forest office.
Mark Twain National Forest wildland firefighters June-July 2012 responded to more than 50 wildfires that burned more than 4000 acres of public and private lands.
Mark Twain National Forest’s 20-year annual average is 174 wildfires burning about 5,145 acres annually. To date in 2012, Mark Twain National Forest has had 117 fires with more than 6,000 acres burned.
“The last time conditions were like this in Missouri was in 1980, and before that in the early 1950s,” said Eberly.
USDA’s Mark Twain National Forest is the largest public land manager in Missouri with 1.5 million acres in 29 southern and central Missouri counties.
The National Forest’s goal is to continue to restore Missouri’s natural communities and maintaining a healthy, working forest.
A Mark Twain National Forest fire support helicopter picks up water to drop on the fire containment line near Dora Monday. (USDA photo by Bernie Terrell)
hillnholler 