CAMDENTON, Mo. - The Mid-County Fire Protection District (MCFPD) was dispatched to three separate fires on Monday, one taking nearly nine hours to control, causing significant damage and injury.
At 12:20 p.m., the MCFPD was dispatched to the 300 block of State Route AA in Roach with a brush truck and tanker, where they discovered about one acre of brush burning. They were able to bring the fire under control within 45 minutes after arrival. MCFPD Chief Scott Frandsen said the fire was suspected to be a rekindle from the day before.
At the same time, additional firefighters were sent to the Velvet Antler area, north of Greenview, where they found a rapidly burning fire in a valley with several outbuildings, garages and houses in its path.
Crews had to hike to the scene of the blaze, but high winds forced them to retreat several times.
The firefighters finally cleared the scene around 9 p.m., but returned in throught the night to extinguish hot spots.
Frandsen said the fire was very difficult to control due to the winds and while no occupied dwellings were damaged, several firefighters were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation, minor cuts and burns.
About 75 acres burned and one unoccupied mobile home suffered exterior damage.
The state fire marshal and Mid-County fire marshal are still investigating the fire, which required assistance the Sunrise Beach Fire Protection District, Northwest Fire District, Gravois Fire District, several Cole County fire districts, the Versailles Rural Fire District, and two dozen bulldozers and hand crews from the Missouri Department of Conservation.
During the Velvet Antler blaze, five MCFPD personnel were also dispatched with an engine to assist the Camdenton Fire Department in a fully-involved structure fire, which ignited a brush fire on Wilkerson Street in Camdenton. The fire was contained and also remains under investigation by the state fire marshal and Mid-County fire marshal.