Outgoing U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville) is focusing on several things as she leaves office, including fire-damaged Wooldridge. She represents the small Cooper County town on Capitol Hill. Congresswoman Hartzler joined us live this morning on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri,” telling listeners that the Wooldridge fire that burned more than 2,500 acres was started by a combine. Congresswoman Hartzler says there was NO correlation between the fire and tall grass in the Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge:
(AUDIO): Outgoing U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville) focusing on fire-damaged Wooldridge as she leaves office
Outgoing U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville) is focusing on several things as she leaves office, including fire-damaged Wooldridge. She represents the small Cooper County town on Capitol Hill. Congresswoman Hartzler joined us live this morning on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri,” telling listeners that the Wooldridge fire that burned more than 2,500 acres was started by a combine. Congresswoman Hartzler says there was NO correlation between the fire and tall grass in the Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge:
Missouri DPS: cause of Wooldridge fire is still under investigation
The Cooper County Fire Protection District and other local agencies are still investigating to determine what caused Saturday’s massive wildfire in the Wooldridge area.
Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS) deputy director Kevin Bond tells 939 the Eagle that the investigation continues.
“That’s being done on the local level in conjunction with (state) fire marshal’s office. And so that investigation is still ongoing and there’s not been a release on cause of (the) fire yet,” Bond says.
Mr. Bond is a former Pettis County sheriff. He joined Governor Mike Parson, U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville), Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia) and first responders for Wednesday’s Wooldridge tour. Smoke permeated the area during the tour.
Numerous state departments were involved in Saturday’s massive wildfire in Cooper County, ranging from the Missouri State Highway Patrol to the state Department of Conservation. DPS deputy director Bond tells 939 the Eagle that DPS had many of its personnel in Wooldridge, on I-70 and in Jefferson City.
“The state fire marshal’s office, SEMA (State Emergency Management Agency), the Missouri State Highway Patrol, lots of our agencies were actively involved in this situation. We activated the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) there in Jefferson City, not only for this fire but also for other fires and other events that were going on across the state,” says Bond.
The State Emergency Operations Center is housed at Jefferson City’s Ike Skelton facility. Mr. Bond reiterates what Governor Parson told reporters in Wooldridge: that closing I-70 on Saturday for two hours was done for safety reasons due to zero visibility at the I-70 Rocheport bridge.
Hartzler: mid-Missouri’s fire-damaged Wooldridge will recover
Missouri’s governor is thanking first responders and volunteers who responded to Saturday’s devastating natural cover fire in the farming town of Wooldridge.
While the blaze burned more than 3,000 acres of land, Governor Mike Parson notes there were no fatalities.
“We can rebuild from that. I know there are a lot of people who’ve been displaced in this. We’ll be working doing everything we can within the state powers to be able to help with that,” Parson says.
The Cooper County fire district says the fire destroyed at least 23 structures in Wooldridge. Governor Parson traveled to the river town on Wednesday to tour the devastation. He says it likely won’t meet the level required for a federal disaster declaration.
Governor Parson toured the town with U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Harrisonville), who represents Wooldridge on Capitol Hill. She’s heartbroken by the blaze.
“But I’m also heartened by the response of the people in this town (Wooldridge) and this community who stepped up to help their neighbors and are stepping up right now. And all the first responders and others who got here so quickly,” Congresswoman Hartzler tells reporters.
Hartzler says the Wooldridge community will recover, adding that everyone there is stepping in and helping each other. The popular Missouri River Tire Cenex station on Highway 179 has a bucket near the cash register, where you can donate to the Wooldridge fire victims.
(AUDIO) Former firefighter and current State Rep. Tim Taylor (R-Speed) discusses devastating Wooldridge fire on 939 the Eagle
State Rep. Tim Taylor (R-Speed) worked for the Columbia Fire Department for more than 20 years before being elected to the state Legislature from the Boonville area. Representative Taylor’s district includes the village of Wooldridge, and he spent Saturday in town speaking to residents impacted by the large natural cover fire. Representative Taylor tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that Wooldridge’s church, post office and community building have been saved. But he says everything south of Highway 179 has been destroyed, adding he’s never seen anything like the four-mile long fire wall. The massive fire closed heavily-traveled I-70 for two hours on Saturday due to low visibility from the heavy smoke:
