Dry conditions and hot weather have heightened wildfire danger in western Missouri and throughout the state. Moisture conditions are low enough that even some grasses and wildflowers that look green will burn, said Josh Shroyer, a Missouri Department of Conservation resource forester based in Clinton, Mo. Effective immediately, MDC has issued a FIRE BAN on all conservation areas.

The fire ban includes prohibiting campfires and other open fires. The fire ban does permit the use of contained camp stoves and charcoal cooking fires in concrete or metal fire rings. The use of wood in cooking fires is prohibited under the fire ban. The use of fireworks on MDC conservation areas is already prohibited under the Wildlife Code of Missouri.