High Winds and More Wildfires, Power Outages and Road Closure in Lake Area

Several lake area fire districts remain busy today battling wildfires complicated by the dry conditions and winds that are blowing 40+ miles-per-hour helping to fan the flames.

J-Road in Camden County has been closed to traffic due to a fire and smoke about nine miles north of highway 54 and two miles south of highway-7.

Southwest Camden County Fire says they’re also battling additional fires near Macks Creek, the same area that experienced an evacuation order during the fires on Friday.

Another fire is reportedly causing damage to structures in Edwards, where mutual-aid was requested earlier this afternoon.

There’s also reports about a couple fires in the Horseshoe Bend and Lake Ozark areas, with one fire being seen at the bottom of Bagnell Dam.

A number of power outages are being reported as well due to the ongoing high winds, which fire officials say are causing downed powerlines that are igniting at least some of the fires.

Just yesterday, Camden County issued a county wide no burn ban with violators facing the possibility of a class-A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in a jail and a $1,000 fine. That no burn ban is in effect 24/7 until April 1st when it will be reviewed.

Also declaring a no burn ban was the Lake Ozark Fire District within its boundaries and the same possible punishment for those who intentionally light up any kind of an open burn..

**Photo by Diane Ballard