Fire burns 50 acres in eastern Cape Girardeau County

A fire on Cissus Lane, near Neelys Landing , is under control, according to Ralph Birk, the Fruitland Fire Department's assistant chief.

The fire was still burning but firefighters who remained on scene were simply monitoring the blaze to make sure it didn't get out of control again, Birk said around 9 p.m.

All nine Cape Girardeau County fire departments responded to the large natural cover fire, which spread to about 50 acres before 6 p.m. Fire departments from Perry County and Scott County were also called to assist in the fire.

Nearly 17 departments were on scene to help control the fire that destroyed a homeowner's shed.

Birk said he believes the fire started due to a downed power line on Cissus Lane. He expected firefighters to remain on scene until midnight.

Two firefighters -- a Marble Hill, Mo., crew member and a Millersville man -- were take to the hospital, Birk said, due to exhaustion. One had been released Sunday night.

Just before 6 p.m., several bulldozers arrived on scene to clear paths for firefighters who were spread out at three sites to control the burn.

Birk said the wind and the fire's location -- along a steep, wooded hill -- made the fire difficult to put out.

Many of the crews were staged in an area across the highway from Cissus Lane, available to assist in the controlled burn.

There is no burn ban in Cape Girardeau or Cape Girardeau County, according to John Sachen of the Delta Fire Protection District.

But, he said, people should be using common sense and not be lighting anything right now, not even burning in a burn barrel.

Firefighters also responded to a fire Sunday evening near Apple Creek that destroyed about 5 acres. No further information was available at press time.

ehevern@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

Cissus Lane, Neelys Landing, MO