A burn ban is in effect in Lowndes County as of Saturday, according to Fire Coordinator Neal Austin.
Austin said The Mississippi Forestry Commission approved the county’s request for a burn ban Friday evening. It went into effect Saturday and lasts until Nov. 28.
Dry conditions and wind have made conditions ideal for wildfires, and the county has started having problems with wildfires.
“We’ve had a few small fires,” Austin said. “People started calling and asking about a burn ban.”
Austin characterized the fires as “scattered and small,” and most of them were on an acre or less.
While backyard grills are not affected, bonfires and burning of leaves of rubbish and anything with an open flame are banned, Austin said.
The ban extends into the city, as well, according to Columbus Fire and Rescue Chief Duane Hughes.
“It’s been problematic,” Hughes said. “We’ve had several small fires over the last couple of weeks, including fires that started out as grass fires and ended up damaging structures. It’s only going to get worse until we get some moisture.”
The rain that moved through the area Monday will not affect the burn ban, Lowndes County Emergency Management Director Cindy Lawrence told The Dispatch.
“It’s not enough to make a difference,” she said.
Brian Jones is the local government reporter for Columbus and Lowndes County.
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