Sixty-nine counties in Mississippi are under a burn ban, largely due to increased drought conditions in the state and throughout the south. Photo courtesy Mississippi Forestry Commission
Droughts can lead to wildfires, which is why, in the midst of continuing drought in the South, Gov. Phil Bryant issued a burn ban for more than 50 counties on Oct. 11. Today, that number has grown to 69.
On Oct. 27, a Montgomery County man died after an agricultural burning in his field turned into a wildfire. The man tried to suppress the fire but lost his life fighting it, a press release from the Mississippi Forestry Commission says.
"We are deeply saddened by the news from Montgomery County," Charlie Morgan, the state forester, said in a press release. "Wildfires can start with just a spark and spread quickly to endanger forestland, homes, and lives. Please do your part to help prevent wildfires by observing local burn bans and exercising proper fire safety."
Firefighters from the commission were called to put out the fire, and an investigation into the incident is ongoing. Two more counties issued burn bans following the fatality. Brighton Forester, public relations director at the commission, told the Jackson Free Press that even in counties without a burn ban, they recommend people not burn anything outside.
Since Sept. 1, firefighters from the Mississippi Forestry Commission have responded to 658 wildfires that burned 5,761 acres. The state has had little to no appreciable rainfall in the past month and a half, leading to drier conditions that increase fire hazards.
Burn bans mean that outdoor burning such as campfires, fire pits, bonfires, fire rings, fireworks, debris and field burning are all punishable by fine. Violating a burn ban is a misdemeanor, and local sheriff departments enforce fines that range between $100 to $500 for violating a burn ban.
Several southern states are experiencing drought-like conditions like Mississippi, and an AP report found that northeast Alabama and northwest Georgia are experiencing an "exceptional drought." Beyond burn bans, drought-like conditions can also lead to challenges for farmers around the state.
To see if your county is under a burn ban, visit www.mfc.ms.gov/burn-bans.
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