Tishomingo County Burn Ban Stays in Effect Through Nov. 19
The Tishomingo County burn ban is still in effect, even after this weekend’s soaking rain. The Mississippi Forestry Commission’s burn-ban list, updated Sunday morning, Nov. 1, shows Tishomingo County’s ban began Oct. 19 and runs through Nov. 19. That means no outdoor burning of any kind in the county for nearly three more weeks, unless the ban is lifted early. Alcorn and Prentiss counties are not under burn bans.
The ban began as fall wildfire danger was building across the state during a dry October. With leaves now falling and many residents ready to clean up yards after Sunday’s rain, it is a timely reminder to check before you strike a match.
Tishomingo County Burn Ban: What It Means
Under Mississippi law, a burn ban means no outdoor burning of any kind. The Forestry Commission says anything with an open flame that produces an ember is off-limits, because wind can carry embers up to half a mile and start new fires. During the Tishomingo County burn ban, that includes:
- Campfires and bonfires
- Fire pits and fire rings
- Burn barrels
- Burning leaves, brush, or other debris
- Field burning
Gas and propane grills, gas and propane heaters, and charcoal grills are still allowed when used as the manufacturer directs, away from anything that can burn, and never left unattended. The commission urges residents to let charcoal cool completely, soak it with water, and put it in a metal container before throwing it away.
Tishomingo County’s ban lists two exemptions: work by the Mississippi Forestry Commission itself, and commercial contractors using heavy construction equipment whose burns meet Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality rules. Certified burn managers, county fire services, and agricultural field burns are not exempt in Tishomingo County.
Enforcement and Penalties
County boards of supervisors normally request burn bans, and the Forestry Commission approves them. The local sheriff’s department enforces them, so in Tishomingo County that means the Tishomingo County Sheriff’s Department. Under state law, anyone who knowingly and willfully violates a burn ban is guilty of a misdemeanor and faces a fine of $100 to $500.
All burn bans expire at midnight on the listed end date. A board of supervisors can also ask to end a ban early or extend it, so residents should watch for updates before Nov. 19.
Rain Helps, but Drought Lingers
Storms early Sunday dropped 1.5 to 3 inches of rain on parts of the region, including northern Tishomingo County, and prompted a flood advisory for Corinth and surrounding areas. One good rain does not erase a long dry spell, though. The most recent U.S. Drought Monitor map, dated Oct. 27, showed all of Tishomingo, Alcorn, and Prentiss counties in severe drought (D2), with about 46% of Alcorn County in extreme drought (D3). Those numbers do not yet reflect the weekend rain.
Burn Bans Around Northeast Mississippi
Statewide, 57 Mississippi counties were under burn bans as of Sunday. 11 of them are set to expire Monday, Nov. 2. Several neighboring counties remain under bans:
- Itawamba County: through Nov. 3
- Lee County: through Nov. 12
- Tippah County: through Nov. 21
- Benton County: through Nov. 23
Alcorn County’s own emergency ban ended Oct. 12, and the county has not been added back to the list. Even where burning is legal, the Forestry Commission recommends checking the weather first, avoiding windy or low-humidity days, keeping water and a rake nearby, and never leaving a fire unattended.
Source: Mississippi Forestry Commission
