CENTERVILLE, MO (KFVS) -
A wildfire is burning on Mark Twain National Forest lands near Centerville.
This fire was reported on July 4 and measures about 94 acres. It is 90% contained according to the US Forest Service.
There are currently 103 personnel assigned to the incident. They include two hand crews, three engines, one helicopter, four bull dozers and 31 team overhead personnel.
Two of theengines and a water tender are from the Lesterville Volunteer Fire Department.
No structures have been lost.
Saturday, crews will continue constructing and improving indirect containment lines around the fire perimeter, going direct where possible using dozers and hand crews. Patrol for hotspots and continue mop up if containment lines are secure.
A Type II helicopter is assisting with line construction. It's doing bucket drops to cool hot spots. This helicopter is also being utilized for fire suppression elsewhere on the forest, according to the Forest Service.
The fire is burning debris from a 2009 "derecho" windstorm. This derecho knocked down more than 100,000 acres in its path. Heavy mass of dead timber is making it difficult to create containment lines.
Firefighters spent Wednesday building containment lines. No structures are immediately threatened.
USDA Forest Service's Eastern Areas Type 2 Incident Management Team is managing the fire. The team cover a 20-state area from Missouri to Maine.
The team will ensure that firefighting resources are managed effectively, and information and intelligence is provided to the public and cooperators.
The dead timber that's creating the heavy fuel load does not allow for traditional equipment, such as small dozers, to work. Firefighters must find or build paths through the blown down timber. This path is used as a fireline, from which firefighters will burn out the fuel and create a black line around the wildfire.
More than 100 people are assigned to fighting the fire. That includes several fire engines, a helicopter and other personnel.
The drought has created extreme fire conditions on the forest and across Missouri. Over the next few weeks the probability of starting a fire is extremely high.
The public is strongly advised to honor all burn bans during this fire danger period.
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Map (Source: US Forest Service)
Effects of the derecho (Source: US Forest Service)
Effects of the derecho (Source: US Forest Service)
Effects of the derecho (Source: US Forest Service)
Effects of the derecho (Source: US Forest Service)
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