Matt Decker
Fort Leonard Wood
There were no injuries and no damage to government property, but a huge natural-cover fire consumed more than 1,700 acres of grass and trees March 31 in and around Range 19.
Firefighters determined tracer rounds fired on the range sparked the blaze.
According to an incident report from the Fort Leonard Wood Fire Department, personnel battled the blaze for more than 12 hours after getting the call at about 10:30 a.m. Crews with the department’s Squad 1782 and Brush 1772 were first on scene, where they found 2 acres on fire near the range’s Dud Impact Area, which hampered efforts.