“Perfect” wildfire conditions, driven by lack of rain, low humidity and wind, have compelled state and local officials to ask citizens to avoid any unnecessary outdoor burning for the foreseeable future.
On the statewide level, as well as in most local jurisdictions in the Golden Triangle, this remains a request. In Starkville, it’s a citywide burn ban.
The Mississippi Forestry Commission issued a Wildland Fire Alert on Monday, citing the lack of rainfall and dryness from approaching cold fronts.
“The conditions are perfect for fires to spread easily,” said MFC Director of Communications Carrie Balentine McCaughn. “We’re asking people to be extremely careful until we get some meaningful rain and conditions change.”
The MFC has already responded to 227 wildfires that burned 3,032 acres across the state since Sept. 30, according to an MFC press release. While the state is urging people not to burn anything outdoors, it is not an outright burn ban, McCaughn explained.
“(County) burn bans are issued by boards of supervisors, and we’re leaving it up to them,” she said.
Starkville issues its burn ban Oct. 4, Fire Marshal Mark McCurdy said. The ban means no open burning is allowed at all.
“Obviously it’s been really dry for the last couple of weeks,” McCurdy said. “The dry weather and the low humidity and winds all contribute to the reason why we implemented it.
“As long as you burn in an actual container, you can do that because it’s not open burning,” he added. “Grills or those metal burn pits you can stick on your back porch are fine.”
Anything else is not fine, he said.
“If you wanted to walk out and rake your leaves and burn them in your yard or something like that, you wouldn’t be able to do it,” he said.
“Sometimes I get questions from people who just have some rocks in a circle in their backyard, and is that allowed. No, it has to be contained inside something.”
Starkville requires permits to burn inside the city limits, so enforcing the burn ban has been simple, McCurdy said. The ban will remain in place until weather conditions significantly change. Fire Chief Charles Yarbrough previously told The Dispatch the department will reevaluate its need each week.
Other jurisdictions
Neither Lowndes County nor Columbus has burn bans in effect, but their posture is similar to MFC.
“Right now we are not under one, but we are highly encouraging people not to burn until we get a rain,” said Lowndes County Fire Coordinator Neal Austin.
He said Lowndes has not had a lot of grass fires so far.
“When we start getting grass fires that are habitual then we will make that recommendation,” Austin said. “As it stands right now people have been pretty responsible. We haven’t really had any problems.”
If that changes, Austin said he and Emergency Management Agency Director Cindy Lawrence will go to the board of supervisors and ask for a burn ban.
“The length of the ban would be dependent on the weather,” he said. “It can go a minimum of a week to 30, 90 or 120 days, however long it needs to be.”
Austin said no permits are necessary to burn in Lowndes County.
“We just ask that you be smart,” he said. “Keep it small, keep a way to extinguish it and do not leave it unattended. Don’t burn on windy days, and try to keep a six- to 10-foot area around your burn pile that is clean of debris.”
Columbus Fire and Rescue Chief Duane Hughes said the city is holding off on a burn ban for now, as well.
“I’ve been in contact with (Lawrence and Austin) and the state, and as of now there is no plan for a burn ban, although it has been discussed,” Hughes said.
Hughes said there is often an uptick in fire calls this time of year.
“This time of year we tend to see more structure fires,” he said. “But people also begin raking leaves and doing fall clearing, and with these conditions and wind we’ve had a couple of fires that got out of control. It’s definitely a concern.”
The city does require permits to burn, Hughes said.
“We’ll come out and inspect what you’re trying to burn,” he said. “If it’s debris removal, it has to be natural vegetation. It has to be within 50 feet of a water source, and the wind has to be below 5 miles per hour.”
Columbus burn permits are good for 24 hours, he said.
Oktibbeha County Fire Services Coordinator Patrick Warner said a burn ban could be on the horizon.
“We haven’t considered one right this moment,” he said. “If it stays like this then, yes, I would probably recommend it to them, but they would still have to vote on it and approve it.”
Warner said he hadn’t seen much of a problem with wildfires yet.
“I think it’s just because everybody’s aware of what’s going on, more people are paying attention,” he said. “It’s on the television and the radio, and people know it’s dry. We’ve had some people call and ask about burning, and I politely ask them not to, considering the weather.”
Permits are not required to burn in rural Oktibbeha County, but Warner asked for a heads up from citizens nonetheless.
“If you do plan to burn, call 911 and let them be aware,” he said. “Also please call your local fire department and let them know so they can be on standby. They can also come out and wet it down before you burn.”
Brian Jones is the local government reporter for Columbus and Lowndes County.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 30 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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