A barrel of burning trash ignited a brush fire in the 4700 block of Denjover Lane in House Springs on Tuesday morning (Nov. 28). The fire spread to a nearby vehicle, but firefighters were able to keep it from spreading to two nearby residences, Antonia Fire Chief Mike Arnhart said.
At 9:27 a.m., Antonia Fire Protection District got a call about the fire.
“There was a gentleman burning trash in a barrel,” and it spread, Arnhart said.
When firefighters arrived, the grass, brush and a minivan parked at the residence were on fire, and the heat from the flames was melting the siding on one of the homes in the immediate vicinity, Arnhart said. “The burning minivan fueled the fire,” he added.
The wind, however, was working in the firefighters’ favor, blowing in the opposite direction that the fire was traveling, Arnhart said.
“It held the fire in check, and we were able to contain the fire before it caught the residences on fire,” he said. “The fire also was burning downhill, which is slower than up hill and allowed firefighters to get their hoses in place.”
Arnhart said the county is especially dry right now.
“Even if we get a little rain, with the winds we are having, it will dry up quickly. There is very little moisture on the ground right now,” he said.
Arnhart said in the Antonia and Rock Community fire districts, residents are required to get a permit before burning.
“They (fire district officials) will say no if the conditions might cause a fire,” Arnhart said. “Obviously, (Tuesday) was not a good day to burn.”
Firefighters were on the scene for about an hour. The Saline Valley, Rock Community and High Ridge fire protection districts assisted with the call.