Fire burns several acres near Oriole

Between three and four wooded acres off Route V near Oriole burned Wednesday after an outdoor stove apparently threw a spark, chief Dwayne Kirchhoff of the East County Fire Department said.

No one was injured. The fire destroyed between 100 and 150 large, round bales of hay, Kirchhoff said.

"This is perfect burning conditions for outside," he said.

Most of the land was on a steep hillside, which hampered firefighters' efforts, Kirchhoff said.

He said the likely cause of the fire was a spark from the woodstove.

The blaze spread to the bales, but no structures were damaged, thanks in part to the wind, which was blowing toward the northeast, pushing the fire away from a house on the property, Kirchhoff said.

He said the property owner also was able to move some farm equipment out of the way before the fire could reach it.

East County firefighters received assistance from the Fruitland, Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Millersville and Gordonville fire departments, Kirchhoff said.

Pertinent address:

Oriole, MO