wildfires

Mark Twain National Forest lifts fire restrictions

The Associated Press — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 19:47:55 +0000

After some welcome rainfall, Mark Twain National Forest in south-central Missouri is no longer restricting open fires.

Forest officials say remnants of Hurricane Isaac dropped enough rain on the forest in the last week to at least temporarily ease fire dangers.

Acting Forest Supervisor Teresa Chase said Wednesday that the open fire restrictions implemented June 27 are no longer in effect.

Wildfire threat in Mo. will be higher this fall, Nixon says

Marshall Griffin — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 01:05:31 +0000

Missouri’s drought conditions have increased the threat of wildfires across the state.

Governor Jay Nixon (D) presided over a drought briefing today at the Missouri State Fair for emergency management and public safety workers. He says the wildfire risk will stretch into fall, as drought conditions are now expected to last through November.

“It makes common sense," Nixon told reporters afterward. "When the leaves get brown, they’re easier to burn than when they’re green, and

Another fire burns in Mark Twain National Forest

The Associated Press — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 22:00:18 +0000

Firefighters say it make take a week to fully contain another wildfire burning in the Mark Twain National Forest.

New fires break out in Mark Twain National Forest

The Associated Press — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 17:38:59 +0000

Federal officials say two fires in southern Missouri's Mark Twain National Forest have been contained, but new ones have broken out.

The Forest Service said Tuesday that mop-up operations are under way at the 622-acre East End Fire near the Iron County town of Bixby. Arson is suspect in that blaze, which broke out last Thursday.

Morning headlines - Tuesday, July 3, 2012

The Associated Press, Rachel Lippmann and Illinois Public Radio — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 11:23:05 +0000

Nixon seeks permission to ease land restrictions during drought

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has asked the federal government to allow farmers to graze cattle on land that's been taken out of crop production as part of a federal conservation effort.

Farmers in the state have about 1.4 million acres of land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, which pays them to plant other vegetation instead of cash crops like corn or soybeans. Livestock grazing is allowed on the land when there's a 40 percent shortage of hay and precipitation.