A nearly three-months long burn ban that prohibited outdoor burning in most areas of the state has been lifted, Gov. Phil Bryant announced Friday.
On Oct. 11, the governor initiated the partial state-level burn ban in 52 counties across the state due to extremely dry conditions and fire danger that affected everything from pecan production to construction sites.
Bryant said a statement Friday that said these conditions “no longer threaten public safety.”
This burn ban ends in spite of extreme drought conditions taking hold of most of the state as of Thursday, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
The Mississippi Forestry Commission on Friday said 15 county-level burn bans remain in effect in Calhoun, Claiborne, Franklin, George, Hinds, Jasper, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Kemper, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lincoln, Sharkey, Simpson and Stone Counties.
Burn bans are normally requested by a county board of supervisors and approved by the Mississippi Forestry Commission. The ban prohibits anything with an open flame that produces an ember, including bonfires and fire pits, debris burning and fireworks.
For counties still under active burn bans, each county board of supervisors can choose to lift their burn ban or allow it to expire on a predetermined deadline.