After a handful of grass fires and little rain, Lowndes County is under a burn ban through Oct. 31.
Lowndes County Fire Coordinator Sammy Fondren appeared before supervisors Thursday, to request the ban.
“We”ve had a few grass fires, not that many, but it”s getting to the point where it”s getting volatile,” Fondren said to the board.
Volunteer firefighters respond to about one or two grass fires a week, Fondren said this morning.
“It has become so dry the National Weather Service, out of Jackson, has issued a weather warning until 7 tonight, and they may extend it,” he said.
The Weather Service has asked people to avoid outdoor burning, noting “dangerous fire conditions continue to develop.”
Surface winds are around 15-20 mph with 15-25 percent relative humidity values.
Burn bans are in effect around the state. More than a dozen Mississippi counties have issued burn bans to prevent uncontrolled fires, The Associated Press reported. Among counties with burn bans are Attala, Chickasaw, Clay, DeSoto, Forrest, Grenada, Hinds, Kemper, Lauderdale, Lee, Monroe, Panola, Pontotoc, Rankin and Tate.
“We”ll revisit it if we get some significant rain or if we get any rain,” said Fondren.
At the end of the month, the burn ban may be lifted or extended, depending on weather conditions.
The area has had some sporadic rain, but with the drop in humidity and a cold front moving through the area, burning has become a serious risk, Fondren said. Lows remain in the mid-40s this week, with highs in the 70s.
“It”s just become too risky, and it wouldn”t take but a fly-off ember off someone”s property to get off into the woods, and then we”d have a big problem,” he said.
Thursday morning, a brush fire burned about 80 rural acres in southern Oktibbeha County, which hasn”t issued a burn ban.
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