Fifty-five of Mississippi's 82 counties are now under burn bans as drought conditions continue across the state, Mississippi State University said, joining local governments in enforcing a ban through November 16 in coordination with the Mississippi Forestry Commission.

Source: Mississippi State University

WLBT reported the same statewide figure this week, attributing it to the Mississippi Forestry Commission, and said dry air, low humidity and high winds are raising the risk of wildfires across more than half the state.

Source: WLBT via EIN News

What the bans prohibit

The bans restrict outdoor burning of any kind and are enforced by local police and sheriff's departments, Mississippi State University said. They prohibit anything with an open flame that produces embers — including campfires, bonfires, fire pits, fire rings, burn barrels, debris burning and field burning. The university urged tailgating fans to fully extinguish charcoal briquettes with water and dispose of them in metal containers.

The Forestry Commission has been stretched thin: earlier this week it had responded to 33 wildfires with more than 500 acres burned, with nine active fires in the Jackson-metro region alone, and crews were being pulled in from other regions to help, outreach officer Meachem Harlow told the Daily Dispatch.

Source: Daily Dispatch

Key facts

55 of 82 Mississippi counties under burn bans; bans enforced by local police and sheriffs; Mississippi State University observing its ban through Nov. 16; knowingly violating a burn ban is a misdemeanor under state rules.

What is solid

  • 55 of Mississippi's 82 counties have burn bans in effect, per Mississippi State University and WLBT, both citing the Mississippi Forestry Commission.
  • The bans prohibit open-flame, ember-producing outdoor burning and are enforced by local police and sheriff's departments.
  • Forestry crews have responded to dozens of wildfires during the drought.

What is only claimed

  • The exact county count changes as counties add or lift bans — counts of 45 and 47 were reported earlier in the week before the figure reached 55, so readers should check the Forestry Commission's current list before burning anything.