The Salem Ranger District is seeking public input on a project to reduce “derecho fuels” (trees, wood debris, slash, and woody tangle) still on the ground near Bunker, MO. The forest was severely torn up during the May 8, 2009 derecho winds. The debris has been a problem and has become a severe fire [...]

(Asst. Ed. note: This is a long and comprehensive and statewide look at the effects of Missouri’s drought on forests, fish, plants and wildlife issued by MDC. I’ve got goldfinches in the yard, and last night was surprised by a bunny only 4 feet away as I took vegetable garbage to the compost pile.)
JEFFERSON [...]

ROLLA, MO. — Mark Twain National Forest firefighters and partners have contained the 1,126 acre Potato Cave fire in Ozark County, about 9 miles southeast of Dora, Missouri.
Rain fell on the fire over the weekend. Firefighters will continue to patrol fire lines until they are sure there is no heat left within the fire [...]

From the Mark Twain National Forest late Thursday August 2:
“The Potato Cave wildfire burn-out was successfully completed late Wednesday afternoon and evening. The fire has burned 1,126 acres. County Roads 365 and 368 are open to the public today. However, fire crews will still be working along those roads, so residents and [...]

Yesterday, Mark Twain National Forest released this update via their website:
“Late Wednesday afternoon, August 1, 2012, fire crews were able to start burn-out on the unsecured portions of fireline on the Potato Cave wildfire. As of 5:00 pm, they are about 50% completed with the burn-out operation. There have been no control [...]

If you are interested in primary data regarding wildland wildfires on Conservation land, here is a good link:
http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/applications/FireReporting/Report.aspx
It’s just data. but sometimes that’s all that’s needed.
For the Mark Twain National Forest, there are a number of links, but the best place to start is their homepage:
www.fs.usda.gov/mtnf/ Most of the links are already compiled [...]

News from the Southeast region
Posted by Candice Davis
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will present workshops on on using prescribed fire to improve habitat on Tuesday, Aug. 14, from 1 to 4:30 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. at the MDC Southeast Regional Office in Cape Girardeau. According to MDC Private [...]

ROLLA, Missouri – As of 3 pm Monday, July 30, 2012, Mark Twain National Forest firefighters are working to suppress a wildfire, named the Potato Cave fire, in Ozark County, about 9 miles southeast of Dora, Missouri.
The wildfire cause is under investigation, but it appears likely that it was started by a lightning strike.
Currently [...]

By Jo Schaper
(For more information, see page 3 of the print edition, August River Hills Traveler.)
With persistent temperatures in the low 100s and rain spotty, if at all, this Missouri summer more resembles West Texas or eastern New Mexico weather, a climate most familiar to Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources Arthur [...]

By Jo Schaper
Missouri may have gotten some spotty rain, but the fire danger isn’t over. In fact, a number of fires have been set by lightning, in some mostly dry, windy storms accompanied by very little rain. As of July 9, thirteen fires, four in Wayne County, three in Oregon, and one each in Madison, [...]