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Wildfire threat in Mo. will be higher this fall, Nixon says

Marshall Griffin/St. Louis Public Radio

Missouri’s drought conditions have increased the threat of wildfires across the state.

Governor Jay Nixon (D) presided over a drought briefing today at theMissouri State Fairfor emergency management and public safety workers.  He says the wildfire risk will stretch into fall, as drought conditions are now expected to last through November.

“It makes common sense," Nixon told reporters afterward.  "When the leaves get brown, they’re easier to burn than when they’re green, and consequently I think the fire challenges we’re gonna face in the fall stand a chance to be more significant even than they’ve been this summer.”

Governor Nixon also announced thataround 4,900 water project applications from farmers have been approved, as part of an emergency program announced last month.  The governor also says they’re continuing to monitor river levels on the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. 

Marshal was a political reporter for St. Louis Public Radio until 2018.