Firefighters extinguished a small brush fire this week on Washington University’s Tyson Research Center grounds, 6750 Tyson Valley Road, east of Eureka, said William Stamberger, deputy chief at the Eureka Fire Protection District.
The brush fire, near Lewis Road and West Tyson County Park, was reported at 9:05 p.m. on Monday, June 26. When the call about the fire came in, it was described as a smoky, orange haze, and initially it was difficult to pinpoint the actual location of the fire, Stamberger said.
He also said it was a challenge to get to the fire because the blaze was off the road.
“(The brush fire) was pretty small; it just happened in a pretty inaccessible area,” Stamberger said.
Firefighters used a truck suitable for off-roading and equipped with a pump and water tank to combat the fire, he said.
Stamberger said a lot of timber caught fire, but the fire did not spread far. It was contained to a small area, about 60 feet by 80 feet.
He said firefighters used blowers to clear dead leaves and debris to keep the fire contained, and approximately 2,000 gallons of water and foam were used to quench the fire.
Stamberger said brush fires usually are treated by removing the source of fuel and letting the fire burn out.
“In this case, we put a lot of water on it because timber burns longer,” he said.
Firefighters were on the scene for more than two hours, and the Fenton and Valley Park fire protection districts helped with the call, Stamberger said.
He said the cause of the fire is unknown.
Due to extremely dry conditions, Stamberger asks residents to be very careful if they are celebrating July 4 with fireworks.
Embers from fireworks or sparklers, combined with a dry spell, can be a recipe for disaster, he said.
“Fourth of July is always a concern for us,” Stamberger said. “We’re in the midst of a drought, which makes us highly aware of the risk of fires.”
Stamberger cautions people to be aware of the risk of starting any fire this time of year.
“For any kind of open burning, they need to make sure they completely put it out before leaving,” he said. “Never leave a fire unattended. It can get out of control very quickly.”