Published: June 22, 2009 10:25 pm      

City under a burn ban

A very rainy May has become a vague memory now as a hot, dry summer weather has fallen over east Mississippi and much of the South.

As a result of the low rainfall this month, fire officials with the City of Meridian have issued a burn ban effective immediately.

"The burn permits that have already been issued are still valid at this time but we strongly request all permit holders not to burn until we lift the burn ban," Meridian Fire Department Chief Jeff Homan said in a press release issued from his office Monday afternoon. "Obviously, we won't be issuing any more burn permits until the outside conditions change. We will let the public know when conditions are favorable again to burn outside."

Homan went on to say any reports of outside burning of any kind during the time the ban is in effect will result in the fire being extinguished by MFD personnel.

"Remember, all outside burning inside the Meridian city limits must be permitted by the Meridian Fire Department," said Homan. "And such burning must be supervised at all times by the permit holder."

The dry conditions are also being felt outside Meridian into Lauderdale County.

Lauderdale County Fire Coordinator Clarence Butler said Monday afternoon there is not a burn ban for the county as yet but discussions are heating up along with the temperatures.

"We are watching it very closely," Butler said of the deteriorating conditions. "It's getting bad and some of the farmers are feeling it as are other residents."

Butler said if conditions don't change in the next two weeks, there likely will be serious talks during the next meeting of the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors which will convene July 7.

"We will also be in touch with officials at the Mississippi Forestry Commission," said Butler. "They are very concerned about the conditions as well."

County fire records over the past couple of days only noted two instances of a brush fire in the county. Toomsuba Fire and Rescue was able to respond to one incident while Bailey answered the call on another. No real damage was reported.

According to local forecasts, this dry, hot period is expected to last for at least two more weeks. Weather maps don't show any substantial weather systems west of Mississippi that might bring any sort of wet relief.

"We ask anyone in the county if you have to burn anything, make sure you do it on days where there is low wind," said Butler. "Also, have a good source of water nearby just in case the fire tries to get out of control. I would request that residents not burn at all during this time. Give it time and maybe we will get a little rain to help knock down the fire threat."