The Newton County Board of Supervisors requested the county be issued under a burn ban, beginning today and expiring on September 30, during their scheduled meeting today at the Newton County Courthouse.
Newton County Fire Coordinator Brian Taylor asked that the board approve the issuance of the burn ban due to unfavorable conditions, adding that the county would be joining many other counties that have issued burn bans.
“What this will do is set a precedence that the board has made a decision to enter the county into a burn ban,” said Taylor. “There are about eight or 10 (counties) that are under a burn ban now. Some of our surrounding counties have done the paperwork and made the motion to do it.”
The request now goes before the Mississippi Forestry Commission, which Taylor said should take about two or three days to get approved.
Taylor said that he predicts with so many counties declaring burn bans, the Governor of Mississippi would eventually declare a state-wide ban.
“When you issue a burn ban, this shows the governor that these counties are dry. He doesn’t see the overall state, so he’s going to base it on each individual county and what you guys think you need to do for your county,” he said. “When enough red counties show up, he’s going to say ‘Hey, I need to issue a state-wide ban’”.
Burn Ban
According to the Mississippi Forestry Commission’s website, a burn ban is a restriction on outdoor burning during drought or wildfire conditions. This includes campfires, bonfires, fire pits, fire rings, burn barrels, debris burning, and field burning. Gas/propane grills and heaters, along with charcoal grills, are allowed.
The website also states that local sheriff’s departments enforce burn bans and that any person that knowingly and willfully violates a burn ban could be charged with a misdemeanor. If convicted, violators may receive a fine of not less than $100 and no more than $500.
Exemptions from a burn band include the Mississippi Forestry Commission, certified burn managers, county fire services, commercial contractors with heavy construction equipment (providing that said burn meets MDEQ regulations), agricultural field burn, and others.
