Video: Governor Bryant Issues Statewide Burn Ban

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LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss.(WCBI)–Brush and wildfires can become a problem this time of the year when green grass and trees turn brown.

There has been no significant rainfall in a very long time. Given the fact that there is a lot humidity and possibly wind factored into the equation, creates a high potential for brush and wildfires like the ones recently in Lowndes County.

“We really discourage any type of outdoor burning where there is a chance of, where there is an open flame or chance of embers Said Tympel Turner/PIO-MS Forestry Commission.

In our viewing area , and all other counties across the state there is the need for the burn ban.

“Actually the supervisors request burn bans in their counties. The board of supervisors will meet and with our recommendations request that burn bans, and then we issue the burn ban for the counties,” said Tympel Turner.

The Forestry Commission covers 32 counties in North Mississippi. There are 32 plow units which are bulldozer units, which are not evenly distributed. The resources are limited and scattered. Over the past weekend not including Monday, there were 130 fires burning over 4 thousand acres across the state.

“Since October First we’ve had 439 fires burning 7,052 acres. Most of those, the majority of those were debris burns that were started,” said Tympel Turner.
Keep in mind we are not talking about business or residential fires, however, destruction or loss from wildfires can still be costly.

Violation of a burn ban is a misdemeanor resulting in fines anywhere from $100 to five hundred dollars.