A burn ban took effect for Pike County on Tuesday as firefighters for a second day battled at least four blazes spurred by low humidity, high winds and dry conditions.
Randy Chapin of the Mississippi Forestry Commission said the commission approved the ban on Tuesday.
“As far as we’re concerned, it’s already in effect,” he said.
The ban is slated to run through July 13. Violators can be fined up to $500.
Fernwood Volunteer Fire Department Chief Chris Kyzar met with Pike County County Civil Defense officials this morning to discuss imposing the burn ban, which the Pike County Board of Supervisors will likely ratify at its meeting Friday morning.
Kyzar said his department worked from 4 to 11:30 p.m. Monday, and continued Tuesday to until midnight to fight fires in various locations, including in the areas of Centerville, Lindbergh and Lablanc roads, as well as the Fernwood Country Club.
“Right now, all I can say is we’re estimating (the damage) at between 300 to 400 acres,” Kyzar said. “It’s dry. We need people to curtail their trash fires.”
He said four deer camps and a barn that contained various farm equipment are total losses from the fires.
Fernwood, Progress, Magnolia, Osyka, Sunny Hill, Friendship and Summit volunteer fire departments battled the blazes.
“There’s heavy vegetation and a lot of fuel load,” Progress Assistant Fire Chief Gary McKenzie said. “It’s so dry out there right now. The planted pine out there, six to eight feet tall — it’s going through there like matches.”
Fernwood assistant chief Lycia Moran called the team effort “one of the best collaborations from area fire departments I’ve ever seen.”
As for the cause of the fires, McKenzie speculated, “We feel like some of it may be something as simple as people throwing a cigarette out.”
A garbage fire may have sparked the Centerville Road fire.
McKenzie said firefighting planes based in Pike and Lincoln counties aided in extinguishing the fires.
