Some 10 acres of grass, brush and wooded area burned just east of Gateway Drive near Isaac Lane Friday.
Firefighters were called out to the fire at 11:52 a.m., and a burn ban went into effect at 6 p.m. for areas served by the Neosho Fire Department and the Neosho Area Fire Protection District.
The fire started as a trash fire. In a large trash pile found directly under the main power lines, firefighters discovered motors, tires, car parts and two five-gallon drums of hydraulic oil, which did not catch fire. Power lines were involved, but did not start the fire.
A total of seven Neosho trucks and 14 personnel responded to the fire.
A brush unit from Redings Mill Fire Protection District was requested and units from the Seneca Area Fire Protection District and the Missouri Department of Conservation responded. Firefighters were able to keep the flames from burning into an old Christmas tree farm north of the burn. The lower edges of a small outbuilding caught fire, but it was extinguished. At JR Automotive, a building sustained damage from an electrical charge. Two corners of the building showed arcing and the chain link fence was welded shut. The burn ban will probably remain in effect until there is substantial rain. Residents are advised to not burn trash, brush piles, set campfires or set off fireworks during the ban.
Neosho fire Captain Chris Houk said conditions are “pretty dry.” Mature oak trees caught during Friday’s fire. Mowing around a residence and outbuildings can keep fire from spreading there, Houk said.
“Keep the grass short,” Houk said. “We’ve had some close calls and if people didn’t keep their grass mowed it would have gone to the house. It’s just extremely dry, low humidity and we’ve been having some breezes from the south and it makes it move very fast.”
