The burn ban orders covering Tippah County and Benton County remain in full effect this weekend. The dry spell across north Mississippi keeps getting worse, and the National Weather Service in Memphis expects no rain relief before the middle of next week. Both counties appear in red on the Mississippi Forestry Commission’s latest county burn ban map, updated Sept. 24. The map shows 16 Mississippi counties under bans, most of them across the northern part of the state.
Burn Ban Dates for Tippah and Benton Counties
The two neighboring counties went under their bans about 10 days apart. Each ban was requested by the county board of supervisors and approved by the Forestry Commission.
Benton County (Ashland, Hickory Flat, Snow Lake Shores): effective Sept. 8, currently set to run through Oct. 8.
Tippah County (Ripley, Walnut, Blue Mountain, Falkner and surrounding communities): effective Sept. 18, currently set to run through Oct. 18.
Burn bans can be extended if conditions don’t improve. Residents should watch for updates from their board of supervisors or the Forestry Commission before assuming a ban has ended.
What Is and Isn’t Allowed
According to the Mississippi Forestry Commission, anything with an open flame that produces an ember is off limits while a burn ban is in place. That includes:
Campfires, bonfires, fire pits and fire rings
Burn barrels and yard or debris burning
Field burning
Propane or gas grills, propane or gas heaters, and charcoal grills are still allowed. They should be used safely and never left unattended. The Forestry Commission, certified burn managers and certain commercial contractors that meet state environmental rules can qualify for exemptions.
Violating a burn ban is a misdemeanor in Mississippi. The Forestry Commission lists fines of $100 to $500, and local sheriff’s departments enforce the bans.
How Dry Is It?
Federal drought data (valid Sept. 21) shows 100 percent of Tippah County’s roughly 22,000 residents living in an area affected by drought. The county came in about 4.11 inches below normal rainfall for the year through August. Regional reports this week put Benton County in severe drought, one of the harder-hit counties in north Mississippi.
The weather won’t help much in the short term. In its Saturday morning forecast discussion, the National Weather Service in Memphis said a strong ridge of high pressure will keep the Mid-South dry into early next week, with highs mostly in the 80s. Afternoon humidity could fall to 25 to 30 percent on Sunday. Light winds should keep fire conditions from turning critical, but dry grass, leaves and timber can still catch quickly. Rain chances may return as early as Wednesday, though forecasters said they have low confidence in the timing.
Tips for Tippah and Benton Residents
Hold off on burning brush piles or leaves until the ban is lifted.
Don’t toss cigarettes from vehicles, and keep trailer chains from dragging and throwing sparks.
Avoid parking or idling vehicles on dry grass, where hot exhaust parts can start a fire.
Hunters heading to the woods for the Oct. 1 archery opener should skip campfires.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
