State forestry officials are urging hunters to use any open flames as the state continues to suffer from a drought.
77 of the Mississippi’s 82 counties are under a burn ban. The prohibition disallows the use of any wood-burning campfire, bonfire, fire pit, fire ring, burn barrel - anything with an open flame that produces an ember.
And with no significant rainfall in the foreseeable future, Brighton Forester is with the state forestry commission says the cool dry conditions are perfect for wildfires.
“Right now, conditions are primed for an increase in devastating wildfire activity. Dry, windy conditions, and we’re having a dry, windy cold front actually, that’s what makes it really, really bad. The wind makes wildfires spread more quickly than usual and that occurrence will just get bigger and bigger before it can be contained.”
Deer hunting with guns is officially underway in Mississippi and state forestry officials are worried the increased activity in wooded areas may lead to more wildfires.
But Dwayne Quick of Brandon says the burn bans won’t affect how his hunt.
“I don’t see no sense in using no fire when you’re hunting,” says Quick. “The deer’s going to smell the smoke anyhow. If you’re going to do that you’re just wasting your time.”
Since September 1st, 946 wildfires burned more than 8,000 acres across the state.
