At the request and advice of the Mississippi Forestry Commission, Gov. Phil Bryant has lifted the statewide burn ban, effective immediately.
“Due to the amount of rainfall received in parts of the state over the last week, the MFC has seen decreased wildfire activity,” MFC state Forester Russell Bozeman said Monday. “As a result of the rainfall and current weather forecast, the MFC requested that the statewide burn ban be lifted.”
Despite the lifting of the statewide burn ban, a number of counties will remain under burn bans, enacted by boards of supervisors. For the counties still under a burn ban, each board will have the option to either lift their burn ban, allow it to expire on the predetermined deadline or to extend their burn ban.
Counties still under a burn ban include Webster through Oct. 29, with the MFC exempted
“I want to thank Gov. Bryant for initiating the statewide burn ban on Oct. 2. It is impossible to quantify wildfire reduction numbers as a result of the burn ban, but I am confident it improved the situation,” Bozeman said. “I would also like to thank our wildland firefighters for their commitment and service to the state of Mississippi. They did an outstanding job during this dangerous time, working long hours to protect life, property and our state’s natural resources.”
The public should continue to check to see if their county is still under a burn ban at www.mfc.ms.gov/burn-bans. The MFC will update the list as counties extend or lift their burn bans. Violators of burn bans can be fined up to $500, as well as be held responsible for flame and smoke damage caused by a fire they set.
For more information about burn bans or wildfire prevention tips, like and follow @MSForestryComm on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
