The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for Saturday, meaning that any fires that develop will likely spread quickly.
According to the alert, the humidity will be as low as 20 to 25 percent on Saturday. Combined with the dry conditions already caused by the severe to exceptional drought conditions already in place, it means that critical fire weather conditions will be occurring. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures will create explosive fire growth potential.
Newton and Neshoba counties are already in a burn ban, meaning that no one is allowed to have an open flame outside. Violators who willingly burn during a burn ban can be fined between $100 to $500, according to the Mississippi State Code.
All counties surrounding Newton except for Kemper County are in a burn ban currently. A burn ban also applies to the cities in those counties.
The Mississippi Forestry Commission (MFC) is warning the public that the risk for fire danger will be elevated this weekend due to the combination of low humidity, gusty winds, and dry ground conditions.
Parts of the state saw some rain recently, but most areas had less than 1 inch of participation. This is not enough to bring us through the drought situation. The MFC is urging the public to adhere to burn bans and avoid activities that promote sparks or flames near dried vegetation. "The drought index continues to be extremely high right now. It will take more than 7 inches of rain to saturate the ground enough to eliminate the increased chances of wildfire activity," said Randy Giachelli, MFC Fire Chief.
The MFC continues to station the Incident Management Team (IMT) in strategic parts of the state, along with out-of-state resources to fight wildfires. In addition, the MFC is working with partners like the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), USDA Forest Service, Volunteer Fire Programs, and others to coordinate efforts.
"Nine out of Ten fires are caused by humans. We want to make sure everyone is aware of the potential danger and take the necessary precautions to prevent wildfires," said Russell Bozeman, MFC State Forester. "We encourage the public to visit our website at www.mfc.ms.gov to view the burn bans or visit us on social media to learn more."
