City under a burn ban

Local News

Discussion

June 22, 2009

By Brian Livingston The Meridian Star Mon Jun 22, 2009, 10:26 PM CDT

A very rainy May has become a vague memory now as a hot, dry summer weather has fallen over east Mississippi and much of the South.

As a result of the low rainfall this month, fire officials with the City of Meridian have issued a burn ban effective immediately.

"The burn permits that have already been issued are still valid at this time but we strongly request all permit holders not to burn until we lift the burn ban," Meridian Fire Department Chief Jeff Homan said in a press release issued from his office Monday afternoon. "Obviously, we won't be issuing any more burn permits until the outside conditions change. We will let the public know when conditions are favorable again to burn outside."

Homan went on to say any reports of outside burning of any kind during the time the ban is in effect will result in the fire being extinguished by MFD personnel.

"Remember, all outside burning inside the Meridian city limits must be permitted by the Meridian Fire Department," said Homan. "And such burning must be supervised at all times by the permit holder."

The dry conditions are also being felt outside Meridian into Lauderdale County.

Lauderdale County Fire Coordinator Clarence Butler said Monday afternoon there is not a burn ban for the county as yet but discussions are heating up along with the temperatures.

"We are watching it very closely," Butler said of the deteriorating conditions. "It's getting bad and some of the farmers are feeling it as are other residents."

Butler said if conditions don't change in the next two weeks, there likely will be serious talks during the next meeting of the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors which will convene July 7.

"We will also be in touch with officials at the Mississippi Forestry Commission," said Butler. "They are very concerned about the conditions as well."

County fire records over the past couple of days only noted two instances of a brush fire in the county. Toomsuba Fire and Rescue was able to respond to one incident while Bailey answered the call on another. No real damage was reported.

According to local forecasts, this dry, hot period is expected to last for at least two more weeks. Weather maps don't show any substantial weather systems west of Mississippi that might bring any sort of wet relief.

"We ask anyone in the county if you have to burn anything, make sure you do it on days where there is low wind," said Butler. "Also, have a good source of water nearby just in case the fire tries to get out of control. I would request that residents not burn at all during this time. Give it time and maybe we will get a little rain to help knock down the fire threat."

Text Only

Local News

Local law enforcement officials honored
State Rep. Greg Snowden said he remembered as a child looking up to those "men in blue."
He said police officers in uniform were larger than life, riding in their patrol cars and carrying guns to protect and serve the population. Today, he said he is still in great admiration of the men and women who put their lives on the line every day so that citizens can feel safe.

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
MPD probes vehicle crash
Evidence of a mother's desperate attempt to save her children from harm were spread all over a car lot — and could be seen on her as well in the form of bruises, cuts and scrapes.
Tuesday night, a vehicle with three children inside crashed through a plate glass showroom floor window damaging four new cars and totaling the vehicle the children were in.

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
Skeleton found in residence
Members of the forensics team of the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) were called to a dilapidated home in Chunky to probe the discovery of a skeleton.

February 9, 2012
Police search for robbery suspects
Two men who reportedly robbed a woman at gunpoint in the parking lot of a local bank are still being sought.
Mike Vick, public information officer with the Meridian Police Department, said the two men approached a woman about 8 p.m. Tuesday at the ATM of Regions Bank on North Hills Street. Vick said one of the suspects was armed with a handgun and after taking an undetermined amount of cash and the victim's car keys, the two suspects fled on foot.

February 9, 2012
City cuts payment to Watkins
The Meridian City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to cut their monthly payment to David Watkins, project developer of Meridian's new police station, by $9,999 until work resumes on the project.
The order, made during the Meridian City Council meeting Tuesday morning, included a mutual agreement between the councilmen and Watkins to reduce the project developer's monthly consultant fee of $10,000 to $1, effective Tuesday.

February 8, 2012
Crews work on gasoline pipeline
If you hear a loud, booming sound early today, between 4 a.m.-10 a.m., there is no cause for alarm.
Workers with Plantation Pipeline will be performing maintenance work on their 30-foot gasoline pipeline in the Meridian area to accommodate the widening of Highway 493. The location of the work activity will be at Highway 493 North and Oak Hill Baptist Church, just inside the city limits.

February 8, 2012
Team Spirit
February 8, 2012 1 Photo
High Honor
The flowers and balloons Crestwood Elementary School Principal Kimberly Kendrick received at school Monday were not an early Valentines' Day gift.
Kendrick has been named Meridian Public School District's 2012 Administrator of the Year – an announcement that both surprised and wowed the 17-year veteran educator when made by MPSD Superintendent Dr. Alvin Taylor.

February 7, 2012 1 Photo
Master Dance Class
February 7, 2012 1 Photo
Digital system promises better communication
Hopefully in the near future you won't hear someone in the emergency services ask over the radio, "Can you hear me now?"
A digital communications system, one which is being pushed by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), is a few months away and, in some cases, is already in the testing phase in Lauderdale County.

February 7, 2012 1 Photo
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Discussion

City under a burn ban

Site Map

Contact Us