Fire Burns 50 Acres in Southeast Missouri

A massive natural cover fire that eventually spread over 50 acres in southeast Missouri is now under control.

The Southeast Missourian reports that well over a dozen fire departments responded to the blaze in the Fruitland area on Sunday. Two firefighters were hospitalized due to exhaustion. One was released later Sunday. The condition of the second was not immediately known.

Fruitland’s assistant fire chief, Ralph Birk, says he believes the fire started due to a downed power line. He says strong winds and the fire’s location along a steep, wooded hill made putting it out difficult.

A separate fire Sunday evening burned about five acres in the Apple Creek area of southeast Missouri.