Lincoln County Fire Protection District #1 is helping coordinate a local community driven effort to provide basic supplies to the thousands of people in Joplin, MO affected by the recent devastating tornado. Many individuals and businesses want to donate items, but don’t know how they will get them to Joplin. Lincoln County Firefighters have stepped forward and will transport the first collection of desperately needed items to Joplin on Friday, May 27th. Subsequent deliveries will be made as items are collected and deliveries will continue as long as items are donated and/or needed.

Immediate need items are bottled water, cleaning supplies, trash bags, non-perishable food items, pet supplies, personal hygiene items, first aid kits and extension cords. Also needed are new and unopened packages of socks, underwear, etc. and baby supplies such as formula, diapers, and wipes. All donated items must be brand new and unopened.

Residents can drop off items at the Cherry Street firehouse in Troy or at Hawk Point City Hall. Updates such as deliveries and other drop off points may be available and will be announced on the Fire District’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lincoln-County-Fire-Protection-District-1. Be sure to “like” the Fire District today, so you receive the updates.

Tax deductible monetary donations can be made to the Lincoln County Firefighter’s Foundation. All donated funds will be used to purchase items listed above which will then be transported to Joplin. Otherwise, residents may make monetary donations to the charity of their choice such as the American Red Cross, Salvation Army or Convoy of Hope.

The Red Cross has also advised that type O Negative blood is desperately needed, with some affected areas having less than a one-day supply remaining.

April 16th, 3:07 P.M. Lincoln County Fire Protection District #1 responded to 2420 N. Outer Rd. near Mette Rd. and Hwy. 61 for a structure fire. On arrival, fire units found a single-family dwelling fully involved with fire. Firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze and brought the fire under control within 20 minutes. The cause of the fire is suspicious in nature and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is investigating. Lincoln County Fire thanks Wentzville Fire Protection District, Old Monroe Fire Protection District, Winfield-Foley Fire Protection District, Wright City Fire Protection District, Missouri Region C K-9 Team, Missouri Division of Fire Safety and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance.

April 16th, 11:52 P.M. Lincoln County Fire Protection District #1 and Winfield-Foley Fire Protection District responded to 194 Country Dr. off Hwy. W for a structure fire. On arrival, fire units found a single-wide mobile home fully involved with fire. Firefighters quickly brought the fire under control. The cause of the fire is suspicious in nature and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is investigating.

April 19th, 5:40 P.M. Lincoln County Fire Protection District #1 responded to 514 Oak Bluff Ct. in the Bluffview subdivision in Troy for a lightning strike. The roof of the two-story home was hit by lightning. Lightning entered the attic, scorched insulation and severed electrical wires. Fortunately, there were no flames or smoke visible. Firefighters spread tarps throughout the home to protect the flooring and contents while the burned insulation was removed from the attic.

April 20th, 12:50 A.M. Lincoln County Fire Protection District #1 responded to 810 Adams St. in Moscow Mills for a structure fire. A fire started at a multi-plug outlet which was plugged in to a receptacle behind a turtle aquarium. Flames nearly reached the ceiling of the home when the glass in the aquarium broke sending water onto the flames. On arrival, firefighters found a small amount of material smoldering, extinguished it an ventilated the smoke from the residence.
No one was injured in any of the fires.

On April 3, 2011 at 6:08 P.M., Lincoln County Fire Protection District #1 responded to 136 Darla Court in Moscow Mills for a fire on the outside of a mobile home. Fire units quickly arrived and found the fire had been nearly extinguished with fire damage to landscaping and the plastic skirting of the home. After extinguishing the remaining fire and checking the home for fire extension, firefighters advised the homeowner to extinguish the remaining charcoal in the barbecue grill in order to prevent another fire.

The cause of the fire was accidental. The homeowner had placed charcoal briquettes in a propane barbecue grill on a wooden deck, ignited the charcoal and went inside the home to prepare the food. The homeowner returned and found the ground below the deck, landscaping and plastic skirting of the home on fire. A windblown charcoal ember from the propane barbecue grill started the fire. Improper use of the barbecue grill and 20+mph wind conditions were contributing factors.

At 6:58 P.M. the Fire District was again dispatched to the same residence for an attic fire. Fire units arrived and found the attic of the mobile home on fire. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire and saved all contents of the home from fire damage. Fire District staff remained on scene until after Midnight to help the homeowner remove valuables and cherished items from the home. In fact, firefighters moved and transported much of the homes contents to a nearby storage unit to help prevent damage from water or falling drywall.

The cause of the attic fire was also accidental and was started by a windblown ember entering the wood eaves on the outside of the home near the location of the first fire. An inspection of the barbecue grill revealed a temperature of 458 degrees, showing it had not been properly extinguished after the first fire.

Lincoln County Fire Protection District #1 reminds residents to use barbecue grills as intended and to monitor weather conditions when using any flame or heat source outdoors. Propane grills are not designed for use with charcoal. In fact, most propane grills have a hole in the bottom with a grease trap below. Use of charcoal can cause glowing embers to escape through the bottom of the grill and start a fire.