Crime & Safety

Eureka Firefighters Take Steps to Prevent More Brush/Wildland Fires

Eureka Fire Protection District team members are trying to avoid additional brush and wildland fires from occurring. Weather conditions are so dire, Gov. Jay Nixon activates State Emergency Operations Center.

public information officer Scott Barthelmass told Patch local firefighters just took the following steps related to potential brush- and wild fires: 

  • Displaying new signage at each engine house warning residents of the extreme fire danger and to not do any open burning
  • Distributing flyers door-to-door in subdivisions warning about the fire dangers that fireworks, open burning and improperly disgarded cigarettes cause
  • Posting signs at the entrance to subdivision warning about the fire dangers that fireworks, open burning and improperly disgarded cigarettes cause
  • Working with local businesses to get them to display information  on their electronic message boards warning residents of the extreme fire danger
  • Using, in cooperation with Eureka PD, the , to warn residents of the extreme fire danger. Residents area can sign up for Code Red via a link on Eureka fire district's website

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On Friday, Gov. Jay Nixon ordered the activation of the State Emergency Operations Center in response to fires and a prolonged period of record heat and low precipitation across Missouri. The Governor also ordered the Missouri National Guard to ready the assets and resources it would need to support firefighting operations in Missouri. This Missouri Division of Fire Safety is assisting with the coordination of resources.

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In Iron County, MO, approximately 550 acres of the Mark Twain National Forest already have burned, and approximately 2,000 additional acres are at risk. U.S. Forest Service personnel and assets are fighting the fire on federal land. Missouri’s Fire Mutual Aid Program is deploying additional personnel, trucks and tankers to the area to protect homes and other structures near Bixby, MO.

“Extremely hot and dry conditions across our state have created conditions that are prone for fires as we have seen in several counties in recent days,” Gov. Nixon said. “Local, state and federal personnel are working together to fight significant fires in Iron County, and my administration will make available any resources necessary to combat this fire. As we approach the Fourth of July holiday, I urge Missourians to take precautions to prevent fires, check on their neighbors and stay safe.”

Find out what's happening in Eureka-Wildwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Under the Governor’s order, state agencies will staff the State Emergency Operations Center to coordinate response efforts and resources, including providing temporary shelters should evacuations become necessary. State agencies that can be activated for duty under the order include:

  • Missouri Department of Public Safety,
  • State Emergency Management Agency,
  • Missouri State Highway Patrol,
  • Division of Fire Safety,
  • Department of Agriculture,
  • Department of Conservation,
  • Department of Corrections,
  • Department of Health and Senior Services,
  • Department of Mental Health,
  • Department of Natural Resources,
  • Department of Social Services,
  • Department of Transportation and the Office of Administration.


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