Camper burns at Udall campground; After owner has chest pains, Air Evac helicopter disabled by bird strike

Bakersfield, Tecumseh and Howell Rural volunteer fire departments responded to a camper fire Monday afternoon at Udall campground on Lake Norfork. The occupant of the camper, an unidentified West Plains man, reportedly saw smoke and fire coming from the roof of the camper around 1 p.m. and called the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department. When Bakersfield VFD arrived on scene, half the camper was engulfed in flames. Firefighters worked to get the flames extinguished. The camper owner was not injured in the fire, but Air Evac was called to the area when he experienced chest pains. When attempting to take off to transport the man to the hospital, the helicopter reportedly hit a buzzard and had to land again. Another helicopter was dispatched to transport the patient, and a mechanic was called to look at the helicopter that had hit the bird. Fire crews continued to work to keep the fire under control as the blaze rekindled several times. Firefighters believe the fire may have started in the camper’s generator.