176-acre wildfire contained near Dawson Bottom, Tishomingo County

A 176-acre wildfire near Dawson Bottom in Tishomingo County was contained on Nov. 13 after crews worked to protect timber and property belonging to 25 area landowners.

The Mississippi Forestry Commission said the blaze broke out Nov. 13 and that wildland firefighters from Service Area 13 — which includes Alcorn, Prentiss and Tishomingo counties — were called to the scene.

First responders operated bulldozers in three directions to combat a pair of distinct head fires, the commission said, and officials reported the efforts were successful in protecting timber and property for 25 landowners.

“Even swampy bottomlands, where you typically see standing water, are bone dry right now,” the commission said in a release. “With conditions this dry, a single ember can easily blow across water or clearings and ignite a whole new head fire in seconds.”

The release said 52 Mississippi counties are currently under a burn ban and urged residents in affected counties to avoid any outdoor burning as dry conditions persist.

Source: SuperTalk Mississippi