Tate County received some much-needed rainfall at the end of October, but not enough to lift the current burn ban according to local officials.
Supervisors agreed to keep the ban in place after Jim Huestis, Tate County Emergency Management Director/Fire Coordinator, made the recommendation to do so Monday, Nov. 6.
“I have received a bunch of calls from citizens asking if we can lift the ban but based on the recent conditions and extended forecast, I think it’s best we keep it place for now,” Huestis said.
The original burn restriction was issued Tuesday, Oct. 24, and runs through Monday, Nov. 20 when officials will reassess the situation and decide whether or not to extend the ban.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Tate County received 1.1 inches of rain Monday, Oct. 30, when a cold front moved through the Mid-South. Data shows Tate County received an overall total of 1.7 inches of rainfall in October, 1.94 inches in September and 3.19 inches in August.
Tate County received slight amounts of rain late last week, but Huestis said it might not be enough to cancel the local burn ban.
The United States Drought Monitor which measures drought intensity shows almost all of Tate County, except for the northern portion bordering DeSoto, is in the “extreme” category. The northernmost area of Tate is in “severe” drought conditions.
Several southwestern Mississippi counties remain in the highest drought situation of “exceptional”. A total of 69 counties in the state remain under a burn ban.
The governor of Alabama issued a statewide burn ban Thursday, Nov. 9, prohibiting outdoor burning of any kind.
A burn ban means no outdoor burning of any kind including campfires, bonfires, fire pits, fire rings, burn barrels, debris burning, field burning or anything with an open flame that produces an ember. The wind can carry floating embers away from the original fire and start a spot fire up to a half mile away from the burning area.
Certain heaters and grills are allowed under burn bans but should be used with precautions. Propane gas grills, propane gas heaters, and charcoal grills are allowed under burn bans. They should be used as described by their manufacturer’s instructions, located safely away from combustible materials, and never left unattended.
If they are not disposed of properly after use, charcoal grill briquettes are of great concern. After use, always let the coals cool completely and douse in water before disposing of them in a metal container. The residual ash should be cold to the touch before disposal.
Any person who knowingly and willfully violates a burn ban is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be fined not less than $100 and not more than $500. Burn bans are enforced by individual sheriff's departments in each county.
To report an illegal fire under this ban, call the Tate County E-911 non-emergency line at 662-560-5692 or Tate County Sheriff’s Office at 662-562-4434.
