UPDATED: Thursday, Oct. 8, at 1:42 p.m.
Due to extremely dry conditions, all forms of outdoor burning in Tallahatchie County have been outlawed until further notice.
The county Board of Supervisors imposed the burn ban Monday at the behest of county Fire Coordinator Richard Taylor. The prohibition took effect immediately.
“It’s dry,” said Taylor, who earlier this week noted that even the most optimistic of weather forecasts predicted only a slim chance — 20 percent or less — of local rainfall over the next 10 days.
While Taylor noted that there has been just a “small increase” in the incidence of local wildfires, he cautioned that conditions are ripe for more to break out unless extreme caution is exercised.
While county governments may exempt certain forms of outdoor burning from a burn ban, Tallahatchie County’s decree is comprehensive and offers no exceptions.
It also does not stipulate an expiration date for the ban.
“The duration is until the dry spell breaks,” said Taylor.
According to the Mississippi Forestry Commission’s website, as of Tuesday, 22 of the state’s 82 counties — more than one-fourth — had imposed some form of ban on outdoor burning. Six new decrees were issued Monday alone, including one by Panola County that is set to expire Nov. 2 if not renewed.
Under state law, any person who knowingly and willfully violates a burn ban is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be fined from $100 to $500.
To monitor the status of burn bans around the state, visit www.mfc.ms.gov/burn-bans.php.
