It is believed lightning is the cause of a generator catching fire at the cell phone tower near the Maries-Phelps County line on Monday afternoon, which resulted in a propane fed fire that closed Highway 63 for about one hour.

Vichy Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Mike Prigge said the firemen were on the scene from about 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. He said they believe, although it is undermined, that a lightning strike caused the fire to the generator, which had a propane tank about 15 feet away that was feeding the fire. 

Prigge said they closed Highway 63 until they could get Intercounty Electric on the scene to get the electricity off so the firemen could get the propane tank cooled down and to shut off the tank. Prigge said they closed the highway due to concerns about the propane tank exploding. The firemen used about 1,000 gallons of water at the fire scene.

Traffic control was provided by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Maries County Sheriff’s Office, and some of the Vichy firemen. Traffic was diverted to Highway P to Highway 68 on the Maries County side, and on the Phelps County side, traffic was sent back to I-44 to St. James.