Fire risk still high as fall arrives

Cooler temperatures are on the way as fall makes it way to the Magnolia State, but a scorching summer and little rain means residents should heed caution before starting any fires.

The National Weather Service in Jackson is forecasting temperatures falling into the 40s heading into the weekend as Saturday and Sunday peak at 71 degrees and 73 degrees, respectively, and drop to 44 degrees and 47 degrees at night.

A red flag warning has been issued for Lauderdale County and much of east Mississippi as a cold front pushes cool, dry weather into the area. A red flag warning means dry conditions coupled with strong winds create a situation for rapid fire growth. The warning is set to be in effect from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Saturday.

Lauderdale County remains under a burn ban put in place on Aug. 18 that prohibits all outdoor burning including fire pits and rings, bonfires, campfires, burn barrels and debris burning and burning fields.

According to the Mississippi Forestry Commission, which issues burn bans, anything “with an open flame that produces an ember” is prohibited under the ban.

More than 760 wildfires have been reported in the state since Aug. 1, which have collectively burned more than 14,000 acres, the forestry commission said. Assistance from nearby states including Alabama, Florida, Tennessee and South Carolina has been brought in to help MFC crews. Resources from the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service, as well as Mississippi Emergency Management are also in use.

Residents, however, are still able to enjoy some outdoor activities as charcoal and gas grills and gas heaters are not included under the ban. MFA says charcoal briquettes can still be a risk and advises dousing them in water and disposing of them in a metal container after use.

Neshoba, Newton, Jasper and Clarke counties are also under burn bans, as is every county south of Interstate 20. In total, 51 of Mississippi’s 82 counties have active restrictions on outdoor burning.

Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith on Thursday encouraged livestock producers in the state to seek disaster assistance through the U.S. Department of Agriculture due to the drought conditions impacting much of the state.

“The ongoing drought in Mississippi has caused significant loss in forage availability,” Hyde-Smith said. “I’ve heard from so many livestock producers who are being forced to either suffer tremendous feed and transportation expenses, or to sell their cattle because they can’t afford to keep them.”

The U.S. Drought Monitor shows much of Lauderdale County in a moderate drought, with the western portions slipping into the severe drought range. A total of 44 Mississippi counties are considered to be in extreme or exceptional drought, and none are considered to be experiencing no drought at all.

In addition to livestock, the U.S. Drought Monitor noted in its forecast summary the abnormally dry weather was also negatively impacting crops of soybeans and peanuts throughout the state as well.

Several assistance programs are available through the USDA, Hyde-Smith said, and producers throughout the state are encouraged to contact their farm service agency office to see what programs might apply to them.

“Livestock producers in Mississippi may not be familiar with USDA drought assistance programs because we don’t often suffer such extended and severe drought conditions,” she said. “I encourage affected producers to contact their local Farm Service Agency office to discuss participation in the Livestock Forage Disaster Program and/or the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program. Both programs could be useful as we deal with these extremely dry conditions.”