The natural cover fire at Wooldridge has burned 3,000 to 5,000 acres. According to the Cooper County Fire Protection District, twenty-three structures were heavily damaged or destroyed by the fire.

The fire began Saturday afternoon after a combine ignited a field it was harvesting. The flames spread from south of Woolridge to Interstate 70, engulfing the town, surrounding farmland and land belonging to the Big Muddy Fish and Wildlife Reserve.

Twenty-five to thirty-five mile an hour winds fueled the fire.

Interstate 70 was closed down for nearly two hours due to poor visibility caused by smoke from the fire.

One person was injured and taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Ten people were displaced by the fire.

Multiple area fire districts responded to the fire.

Photo courtesy of Maya Bell/Missourian via AP