JACKSON – Nearly 50 Mississippi counties are now under active burn bans as dry conditions continue across the state.
The Mississippi Forestry Commission said 47 counties are currently under burn bans, with additional counties potentially added as conditions change.
Under the bans, outdoor burning is prohibited. That includes campfires, fire pits, burn barrels, brush and debris burning, and field burning.
The Forestry Commission said knowingly violating a burn ban is a misdemeanor and can result in fines ranging from $100 to $500. Burn bans are enforced by county sheriff’s departments. Mississippi Forestry Commission
Enclosed gas or propane grills, gas heaters and charcoal grills are allowed under the current restrictions, according to the commission.
The latest map shows burn bans in counties across North, Central and South Mississippi, including Adams, Amite, Attala, Calhoun, Carroll, Chickasaw, Copiah, Forrest, Franklin, Grenada, Hinds, Holmes, Humphreys, Itawamba, Jasper, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Lafayette, Lawrence, Leake, Lowndes, Madison, Marshall, Monroe, Montgomery, Newton, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Pike, Quitman, Rankin, Scott, Sharkey, Simpson, Stone, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tishomingo, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Wilkinson, Winston and Yazoo counties.
Because burn bans can be added or lifted at any time, residents are encouraged to check the Mississippi Forestry Commission’s current burn ban list before doing any outdoor burning. Mississippi Forestry Commission