Due to excessive heat and some winds expected through the next several days the WRFPD will not be issuing any burn permits. This is expected to last at least a week but could be longer. Please remember to call the office to receive your authorized burn permit.

Pulaski County Fire Departments: The Waynesville Fire Protection District in conjunction with all Pulaski County Fire Departments have issued a burn ban until further notice. No open burning will be allowed in Pulaski County until we receive significant rainfall. Due to hot and extremely dry conditions along with the continued drought, the fire danger is severe. Fire officials say a lack of adequate rainfall and warmer temperatures make conditions for burning potentially dangerous. Some of the dangers that we most frequently see is a small controlled burn that due to dry conditions expands rapidly and the property owners loses control very quickly. Wild fires can spread very rapidly therefore putting citizens at risk. If you are planning on burning anything in the future, fire officials are advising that you contact them to inquire if the ban is still enacted.

Special Weather Statement SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO 1146 AM CDT WED JUN 27 2012 MOZ058-070-071-081>083-090>098-101>106-280015- MARIES-PULASKI-PHELPS-LACLEDE-TEXAS-DENT-GREENE-WEBSTER-WRIGHT- NEWTON-LAWRENCE-CHRISTIAN-DOUGLAS-HOWELL-SHANNON-MCDONALD-BARRY- STONE-TANEY-OZARK-OREGON- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...VIENNA...FORT LEONARD WOOD... WAYNESVILLE...ROLLA...LEBANON...HOUSTON...CABOOL...SALEM... SPRINGFIELD...MARSHFIELD...ROGERSVILLE...MOUNTAIN GROVE... MANSFIELD...NEOSHO...AURORA...MOUNT VERNON...NIXA...OZARK...AVA... WEST PLAINS...WINONA...EMINENCE...ANDERSON...PINEVILLE...MONETT... CASSVILLE...KIMBERLING CITY...GALENA...BRANSON...FORSYTH... GAINESVILLE...THEODOSIA...THAYER...ALTON 1146 AM CDT WED JUN 27 2012 ...DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON... A COMBINATION OF LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY...HIGH TEMPERATURES...AND THE ONGOING DROUGHT WILL RESULT IN DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT RISK AREA WILL BE ALONG AND SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 44...WHERE AFTERNOON RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL DROP BELOW 20 PERCENT. WHILE WINDS WILL BE RELATIVELY LIGHT...FUEL MOISTURE LEVELS ARE NEAR RECORD LOW LEVELS IN MANY AREAS...RESULTING IN THE POTENTIAL FOR VERY EASY AND RAPID FIRE IGNITION...AS WELL AS RAPID FIRE GROWTH. SOME COUNTIES ACROSS THE REGION HAVE INSTITUTED BURN BANS...AND INDIVIDUALS SHOULD ALWAYS CHECK WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES BEFORE BEGINNING ANY OPEN BURNING. IN ALL CASES...OPEN BURNING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT COULD RESULT IN GRASS AND WILDLAND FIRES...INCLUDING THE USE OF FIREWORKS...SHOULD BE DONE WITH EXTREME CAUTION. WITH VERY HOT TEMPERATURES EXPECTED FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS...AND LITTLE CHANCE FOR RAINFALL...ELEVATED FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL LIKELY CONTINUE THROUGH AT LEAST NEXT WEEK.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 29, 2012 Gov. Nixon orders activation of State Emergency Operations Center in response to fires, hot and dry conditions JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Gov. Jay Nixon today 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. 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.” 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. Because of the forecast of prolonged heat and low precipitation, Gov. Nixon encourages Missourians to remember the following fire safety tips: Check with local officials before burning or using fireworks. Where burning or fireworks are permitted, use extreme caution. Use caution with outdoor cooking, and dispose of cigar and cigarette butts properly. These are the sources of many accidental fires in fields and other areas with heavy grasses, use caution when driving or operating farm equipment. A number of fires have started as a result of dry, tall grass coming into contact with hot mufflers or sparks from equipment. Use extra caution, and don’t delay in calling the local fire department if a fire starts. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reminds motorists that smoke can severely or completely reduce visibility, creating very dangerous driving conditions. Because of dry conditions across the state, Missouri has already experienced several grass and brush fires that were triggered by motor vehicle crashes or careless handling of ignition sources. When these fires occur near a roadway, smoke from the fires often creates hazardous driving conditions. When smoke affects visibility on a roadway, drivers must exercise extreme caution. The best decision is not to drive in smoke.

Missouri Department of Conservation MEDIA ALERT: June 29, 2012 MDC issues immediate FIRE BAN on all conservation areas Extreme dry conditions increase threat of wildfire so prevention is critical. JEFFERSON CITY Mo – Effective immediately, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has issued a FIRE BAN on all conservation areas. The fire ban includes prohibiting campfires and other open fires, including charcoal grills. The fire ban does permit the use of contained camp stoves and charcoal cooking fires in concrete or metal fire rings. The use of firewood in cooking fires is prohibited under the fire ban. The use of fireworks is already prohibited on conservation areas under the Wildlife Code of Missouri. “The fire ban is an effort to prevent wildfires under these extreme dry conditions,” said MDC Wildland Fire Supervisor Ben Webster. “The fire ban on all conservation areas will stay in effect until weather conditions change and we get significant rain.” The U.S Forest Service and numerous counties and communities have also issued fire bans. Webster also urges people to use caution when driving off road. “Wildfires can start when fine, dry fuel, such as grass, comes in contact with catalytic converters on motor vehicles,” he explained. “Think twice before driving into and across a grassy field. Never park over tall, dry grass or piles of leaves that can touch the underside of a vehicle. When driving vehicles off road, regularly inspect the undercarriage to ensure that fuel and brake lines are intact and no oil leaks are apparent. Always carry an approved fire extinguisher on vehicles that are used off road. Check for the presence of spark arresters on ATV exhausts.” He urges smokers to practice extra caution. “Extinguish cigarettes completely and safely,” he said. “And dispose of butts responsibly.” Webster added that people should call 911 at the first sign of any fire getting out of control, and should call Operation Forest Arson at 800-392-1111 if they see or suspect possible arson. Callers will remain anonymous and rewards are possible.