Statewide Burn Ban Lifted by Gov. Bryant

A small brush fire on CR 215.
Photo by Ron Kitchens

At the request and advice of the Mississippi Forestry Commission Gov. Phil Bryant has lifted the statewide burn ban, effective immediately.

“Due to the amount of rainfall received in parts of the state over the last week, the MFC has seen decreased wildfire activity,” said Russell Bozeman, MFC state forester. “As a result of the rainfall and current weather forecast, the MFC requested that the statewide burn ban be lifted.”

Despite the lifting of the statewide burn ban, there are a number of counties that will remain under burn bans, enacted by those counties’ Board of Supervisors.

Lafayette County supervisors were going to consider a burn ban but decided not to after Bryant issued the statewide burn ban.

This means Lafayette County residents (living outside the city limits) can now legally burn off their leaves or hold a bonfire party. Burning is not allowed inside the city of Oxford.

For the counties still under a burn ban, each Board of Supervisors will have the option to either lift their burn ban, allow it to expire on the predetermined deadline or to extend their burn ban.

For a list of counties still under a burn ban, visit www.mfc.ms.gov/burn-bans. The MFC will update the list as counties extend or lift their burn bans.

For more information about burn bans or wildfire prevention tips, like and follow @MSForestryComm on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Hottytoddy.com staff report