JACKSON — Burn bans are in effect in at least 15 Mississippi counties as dry conditions heighten wildfire risk, the Mississippi Forestry Commission said Tuesday. The bans, which prohibit outdoor burning of any kind, run through various dates in March and early April and expire at midnight on the listed end date.
The commission said the bans bar anything with an open flame that produces an ember, including campfires, bonfires, fire pits, fire rings, burn barrels, debris burning and field burning. The agency warned wind can carry embers as far as a half-mile, potentially igniting spot fires.
Propane or gas grills and heaters are allowed, as are charcoal grills if used according to manufacturer guidelines, kept away from combustible materials and never left unattended. Officials said charcoal briquettes should be completely cooled and doused with water before disposal in a metal container. Each county order lists whether exemptions apply.
The commission said county boards of supervisors request burn bans and the agency approves them. Exemptions may include certified burn managers, county fire services, certain commercial contractors meeting Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality regulations and agricultural field burns; some counties list no exemptions. Local sheriff’s departments enforce the bans, and anyone who knowingly and willfully violates an order faces a misdemeanor charge and a fine of $100 to $500. This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.
