Firefighters put out 2-mile long grass fire along I-55

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. (KBSI) – Firefighters battled a two-mile long grass fire along the median of Interstate 55 near Portageville on Sunday.

Southern winds of 20-30 miles per hour fueled the grass fire on the median at 12:48 p.m Feb. 25.

The fire started around the 35 mile marker, according to firefighters with Portageville Fire & Rescue.

Engine 1 responded. Firefighters realized tanker support was needed for an additional water supply.

Firefighters from the Marston Fire Department provided mutual aid.

Al Delisle is the Captain of Portageville fire department and was there helping to put the fire out.

“We learned that the fire was quickly spreading. We had high winds between 20 to 30 mile an hour and given the humidity and everything that we had working against us it was very hard to contain the fire.”  

Marston Fire Department assisted along with Missouri State Highway Patrol who assisted in shutting down part of the highway as crews worked for about three hours to put the fire out. Delisle explains how he believes the fire started.  

“Alot of times when we see grass fires like this it’s because a cigarette has been thrown out the window or a tire blown out but we could not find any source yesterday. “ 

The smoke conditions caused the temporary closure of the southbound lanes of I-55 from New Madrid to Portageville.

All crews cleared the scene around 3:30 p.m.

Many areas are under a burn ban do to dry weather conditions.

The city of Cape Girardeau is also under burn ban on Monday, Feb. 26.

Chris miller is an operator with the Cape Girardeau fire department he talks about the burn ban. 

“Here in the city of Cape Girardeau we designated everyday as either a burn day or a no burn day and on a day like today with the winds like they are it is actually a no burn day.”  

Miller says you can go to City of Cape.Org/fire to see check if its a burn day or not.