ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – Low humidity coupled with wind gusts has created what some first responders call a firestorm.

The elevated fire risk fueled one of those blazes in Washington County Wednesday. That fire could be seen for several miles. 

Other area fire chiefs are seeing similar troubles.

“We’re running 20 calls in a 10-to-12-hour period,” said Chief David Pratte, Big River-Bonne Terre Fire Department. “It’s just been one call right after another.”

Governor Mike Kehoe shared some images of first responders battling fires in various parts of the state, asking for the public to use extreme caution and avoid any activity that could spark a fire.   

Weather conditions are expected to create a high risk for fire in parts of southeast Missouri through Friday.

“Fire doubles every 30 seconds,” Pratte said.

He echoed the governor’s call for caution and is urging residents to avoid any burning of trash or leaves.  

Pratte also asks residents who have done any outdoor burning recently to add more water to what they burned.

“If you burned a pile of brush in the past 10 days, such as logs, they’re still burning inside,” he said.

Pratte’s department is a volunteer department. He said working full-time jobs and then responding to this rash of avoidable fires is taking a toll on volunteers.

“They’re exhausted,” he said. “They’re tired.”