aroundCarthage

Local News, History, and Info from around Carthage, Missouri

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Mid-Mo town devastated by fire as 3,500 acres burn

WOOLDRIDGE, Mo. (AP) — Roughly half of a small Missouri town burned Saturday after a wildfire spread quickly from a farm field and destroyed or heavily damaged 23 buildings, officials said.

No one died and only one person was taken to a hospital for a non-life-threatening injury, but the entire town of Wooldridge had to be evacuated Saturday because of the fire that was started in a nearby field by a combine that was harvesting crops. A nearby stretch of Interstate 70 had to be closed for nearly two hours Saturday evening because heavy smoke reduced visibility so much.

| RELATED >> I-70 closed as Wooldridge Fire smoke covers the interstate

Cooper County Fire District spokesman Jim Gann said Sunday that between 3,000 and 3,500 acres burned before the fire was brought under control. Firefighters were working Sunday to keep hot spots under control with strong winds forecast in the afternoon

Wooldridge is a town of less than 100 people about 20 miles (32 kilometers) west of Columbia along the Missouri River. Stephen Derendinger, an engineer with the Jamestown Rural Fire Protection District, said half the town is burnt.

| RELATED >> State-wide mutual aid request to assist in Wooldridge; More than 50 fire departments respond 

“It’s devastated,” Derendinger said.

Firefighters were able to save the Wooldridge Baptist Church, Wooldridge Community Club and post office as they pumped water from swimming pools to help battle the blaze.

| More Joplin News First >> CARTHAGE FIRE BATTLE MASSIVE SPREADING STRUCTURE FIRE 

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Wildland fires spread causing small Mid-Mo town to evacuate; State-wide mutual aid request to control fire

COOPER COUNTY, Mo. – For days fire crews across SWMO, NEOK and SEK battled large, fast-moving grassfires. The same has been happening across the region. Saturday evening I-70 was closed for 2+ hours as smoke covered the interstate making driving dangerous.

| RELATED >> WILDLAND FIRES CLOSE I-70 WEST OF COLUMBIA

 

Mid-Mo residents are still being threatened by wildland fires. Cooper County Fire District requested state mutual aid to help control a fire that has burned nearly 20 structures:

At 15:35 on 10/22/22, the CCFPD was dispatched to a natural cover fire just south of Wooldridge. Because of the high winds and low humidity the fire spread quickly into the village of wooldridge burning approximately 20 structures. The fire front continued North to interstate 70 burning approximately 3,500 to 4,000 acres. The statewide mutual aid system was activated, and there are currently more than 30 agencies on the scene. No ff injuries have been reported this far and 1 civilian injury that is believed to be non-life threatening. Displaced residents are being sheltered at the Open Bible Praise Center on Hwy 87. interstate 70 was closed for approximately 2 hours while smoke was covering the roadway. I 70 has been reopened. Crews will remain on the scene through the night to control hot spots and to be prepared for any change in wind direction.

Sunrise Beach Fire were one of the many departments that arrived to a staging area around midnight. SBF is about 70 miles south of the Woolridge Fire.

Woolridge is a small town near of Columbia, Mo. Founded in 1901. It lies along the Missouri State River flood plain.

The extreme fire danger conditions continue Sunday across the entire state. The Missouri State Fire Marshals office state these are critical fire conditions, “due to low humidity, extremely dry vegetation and windy conditions. AVOID ALL ACTIVITIES THAT COULD SPARK A FIRE!”

KOAM Meteorologist Doug Heady Sunday morning warns of high winds again, “Happy Sunday guys and gals. Again today winds will push 50 mph with a high fire danger once again. After the past couple days of fires let’s be as careful as possible. I will get you a wxsavants youtube video later today with a complete break down of thunderstorms for Monday. Go Chiefs!”

WOOLRIDGE BAPTIST CHURCH, USE FINGERS TO NAVIGATE GOOGLE MAPS STREETVIEW.

Holts Summit Fire responded overnight to the state-wide mutual aid request.

| RELATED FIRE DANGERS >> NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA GRASSFIRE IN GROVE

| RELATED FIRE DANGER >> MO. STATE FIRE MARSHAL IN CARTHAGE TO ASSIST INVESTIGATION OF MASSIVE FIRE

| RELATED FIRE DANGER >> I-70 CLOSES DUE TO SMOKE FROM WILDLAND FIRES

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