Alcorn County Emergency Burn Ban in Effect Through Oct. 12

An Alcorn County burn ban is now in effect. The Alcorn County Fire Service issued an emergency ban on outdoor burning on Monday, Sept. 28, after several fires broke out during weeks of hot, dry weather. The ban runs through Monday, Oct. 12, unless conditions improve enough for officials to lift it sooner.

The Fire Service posted the order on its Facebook page with the message “EMERGENCY BURN BAN ISSUED! 09/28/26 until 10/12/26 unless conditions improve.” Alcorn County now appears in red on the Mississippi Forestry Commission’s statewide county burn ban map, which was updated Sept. 29.

Why the Alcorn County Burn Ban Was Issued

County fire officials told the Daily Corinthian the ban is a response to the extremely dry conditions across the county. Dry grass, leaves and brush are catching fire easily, and small fires can spread quickly. Officials also said fire resources are stretched thin, and they pointed to a shortage of volunteer firefighters statewide.

Late last week, the U.S. Drought Monitor moved much of the area into severe drought, and burn bans had already been declared in several nearby counties. Alcorn County has now joined them.

What Is and Isn’t Allowed

The emergency ban covers outdoor burning across the county, including burning yard debris, leaves and brush piles. According to county fire officials, these are the exceptions:

• The Mississippi Forestry Commission
• Certified burn managers
• Agricultural burning

In earlier burn ban notices, the Alcorn County Fire Service has explained that knowingly burning during a ban in Mississippi is a misdemeanor. It carries fines of $100 to $500, and anyone whose fire escapes can be held responsible for the damage it causes. Residents who aren’t sure whether a particular burn is allowed should check with the Alcorn County Fire Service or the Mississippi Forestry Commission before lighting anything.

Neighboring Counties Under Burn Bans

The Forestry Commission’s Sept. 29 map shows burn bans across much of North Mississippi, including these counties near Alcorn:

• Tippah and Benton counties to the west
• Lee, Itawamba and Monroe counties to the south
• Marshall, Lafayette, Tate and Calhoun counties farther west

Prentiss and Tishomingo counties were not marked as under a countywide ban on that map. Residents there should still use extreme caution with any outdoor fire, and they should watch for changes from their county officials.

Rain in the Forecast, but the Ban Stays for Now

Some relief may be on the way. The National Weather Service in Memphis forecasts sunny skies and highs near 91 degrees in Corinth on Wednesday and Thursday. After that, it calls for a 70% chance of showers and thunderstorms Friday, Friday night, Saturday and Saturday night, and a 59% chance on Sunday. Cooler air should follow, with highs in the upper 70s early next week.

A single rainy weekend may not be enough to reverse weeks of drought, though. The ban stays in effect until county officials announce otherwise. For updates, follow the Alcorn County Fire Service on Facebook or check the Mississippi Forestry Commission’s burn ban page at mfc.ms.gov.

Related coverage: Alcorn County Drought Turns Severe as Burn Bans Ring Area and Corinth Weather: Near-90 Heat, Then Rain Chances by Friday.

Source: Mississippi Forestry Commission, Alcorn County Fire Service (Facebook), Daily Corinthian