Jefferson County - East-West Gateway Coordinating Council

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Jefferson County – Section 2
No Missouri fires are listed among the significant wildfires in the U.S. since 1825. Fires
covering more than 300 acres are considered large in Missouri. Based on limited MDC
data, it was reported that during March and April 2000 all of Missouri sustained
devastating fire damage to thousands of acres resulting from wildland fires. Each year,
about 3,700 wildfires burn more than 55,000 acres of forest and grassland. Missouri's
wildfire season is in the spring and fall, unlike the Western states that have a summer fire
season. Dead vegetation, combined with the low humidities and high winds typical of
these seasons, makes wildfire risk greater at these times.
According to the MDC-Forestry Office, in the past twenty years, there have been only about
five fires in the State of Missouri that MDC has been involved with in the St. Louis
Metropolitan area. For the most part the rural fire departments fight their own fires.
Some areas of land are not covered even by volunteer fire departments. In this event, the
MDC will cover fires in these areas. Missouri has very few fires that occur as a result from
lightening. Most fires result from arson, campers and from residents that burn trash.
Frequency Of Occurrence
Due to the timing factor and the stage of the MDC database development, frequency of
occurrences was not obtained. Generally, occurrences of fires are based on the weather,
humidity and available fuel.
Intensity Or Strength
Fires that due occur are neither intense nor strong as a result of the weather and fuel
conditions found in Missouri, as compared to the fires in the West.
Lives Lost, Injuries, Property Damage, Economic Losses/Other Losses
Due to the timing factor and the stage of the MDC database development, specific
information on lives lost, injuries, property damage and economic losses was not obtained.
Locations/Areas Affected
Fires typically occur in highway medians and shoulders, near homes and outbuildings.
People who live at the edge of the woods and vegetative debris, especially in Jefferson
County are at a higher risk of having a fire affect their homes and property.
Seasonal Pattern
The season for wildfires in Missouri is between the end of February and the end of April, or
whenever the environment is dry from lack of rain. Due to the lack of moisture throughout
many areas Missouri, from late winter (February) through spring (May) often times the
conditions are favorable for the high risk of wildland fires.