JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. — Drought conditions across most of the area created a perfect storm for a series of weekend brush fires.
The High Ridge Fire Protection District assisted Eureka and Fenton Fire in putting out a huge brush fire Sunday night. It took crews more than three hours to get the flames under control.
The brush fire stretched over 9 acres, deep in the woods near the Beaumont Scout Reservation in High Ridge, according to the High Ridge Fire Protection District.
Officials said in a Facebook post that the terrain was not friendly, and that's why it took crews so long to get it under control.
That was just one of many brush fires High Ridge responded to over the weekend, but they weren't the only ones.
Just before 2 a.m. on Saturday, the Rock Community Fire Protection District was dispatched to a brush fire near the intersection of Missouri 141 and Cesos Lane in Arnold.
A 5 On Your Side viewer said the smoke limited road visibility in the area.
Officials said firefighters were still on the scene nearly six hours later. There were no reported injuries or property damage nearby.
These brush fires happened just days after Jefferson County officials warned people online to stop burning due to dry conditions.
Fire officials said conditions where humidity is low, wind is above average and temperatures are high create a perfect storm for brush fires.
According to drought.gov, over 998,000 people in St. Louis County are affected by a drought right now, and that is up 100% since last month. This is the 38th driest year to date over the past 129 years.
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