Mississippi Forestry Commission

10/15/2026

🚨 WILDFIRE SAFETY ALERT 🚨

🚩A Red Flag Warning has been issued for portions of central and southern Mississippi from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday. High winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation will create dangerous, fast-spreading fire conditions.

⚠️ LOOKING AHEAD: A Fire Weather Watch has also been issued for central and southern Mississippi from Saturday morning through Saturday evening. Critical fire weather conditions are expected to persist through the weekend.

🚫 In addition, 5 new counties- Forrest, Franklin, Leake, Oktibbeha, Rankin, and Yazoo—have been added to the statewide burn ban list, bringing the total to 30 Mississippi counties under active burn bans.

Please remember: Burn bans and extensions can be added or updated at any time. Check mfc.ms.gov for the most up-to-date burn ban list and fire safety guidelines.

10/14/2026

Think twice before burning on windy days! 💨🔥

High winds can carry embers, ignite dry brush, and spread wildfires at alarming speeds. This video from Monday, October 12, shows the 123-acre Carroll County wildfire in Area 24 and demonstrates how quickly wind can turn a routine burn into an out-of-control fire.

Always check local weather conditions and burn bans before outdoor burning!

📹: Daniel Counts

10/13/2026

Copiah and Scott Counties have been added to the burn ban list. 24 counties statewide are under active restrictions.

Please check the Mississippi Forestry Commission Burn Ban Page for current listings before any outdoor burning. https://bit.ly/2MZLIC0

10/13/2026

10/12/2026

10/12/2026

Inspiring the next generation of forestry leaders at Falkner High School! 🌲📚

MFC's Mike Crabb spoke with all CCR classes about forestry careers, our state's vital timber economy, and wildfire safety. Thanks for having us!

10/09/2026

Here are some pics from last week's wildfire in Panola County. 🌲🔥Area 14 Forester Cole Magers, captured these photos while on the ground tackling the Blue Room Rd. Fire. While mapping initially pegged it around 225 acres, ground operations and timber/understory conditions showed an even bigger footprint once everything was mopped up. Our wildland firefighting crews continue doing what they do best to protect Mississippi's forests.

10/09/2026

🚨 HIGH WILDFIRE RISK: PLEASE NO BURNING TOMORROW 🚨

A critical combination of dry air, near-record high temperatures, and gusty winds driven by the outer flow of is creating a high-risk, significant fire potential across Mississippi starting Friday.

🚫 18 Counties Under Active Burn Bans: 18 counties across the state already have mandatory burn bans, and outdoor burning is strictly prohibited.
🪵 Critically Dry Fuels: Vegetation statewide is extremely dry and primed to burn rapidly.
💧Plummeting Humidity: Relative humidity (RH) will plummet into the 20s across most areas.
🍃Strong Winds: Gusts will reach 15–20 mph in the north and up to 20–35 mph closer to the coast, meaning any spark can instantly escalate into an uncontrollable wildfire.

Please do not burn! 🚫🔥Debris burning, fire pits, and open flames are dangerous and heavily restricted. Even outside of current ban zones, dry conditions mean one stray ember can travel up to half a mile and threaten homes, forests, and entire communities.

Please keep our communities and first responders safe. Postpone all outdoor burning until weather conditions improve! 🌲

10/08/2026

to 1941! 🌲🌳

Long before modern lookout towers and digital detection systems, forestry protection in the Magnolia State looked a little different. Check out this historical gem from our archives.

In 1941, Mr. J.O. Nelson, a "Head Standby" and fire crew member in Tishomingo County, decided to take matters into his own hands. Using sturdy oak trees, he and his crew built one of Mississippi's very first "home-made" platform fire towers.

Furnishing most of the materials himself, with a little help from the Board of Supervisors and County Ranger H.N. Wheeler, Nelson built a 40-foot-high platform described as "large enough and strong enough to hold four or five people at once."

10/07/2026

Fighting wildfires takes dedication around the clock; day and night, 24/7. 🔥

This stunning (and a little eerie, just in time for October!) nighttime photo captures a dozer working along the fireline during the Area 13 Wildfire on September 29th. Area Forester Drew Fletcher captured this photo while he and fellow wildland firefighters kept watch and protected our woods that night, battling not just this 2 acres in NW Tishomingo County, but two other fires that same night!

While images like this show the dramatic reality of what our crews face, we need your help to prevent these fires before they start. As conditions stay dry, please remember: Always check local burn restrictions, never leave a fire unattended, and do your part to keep Mississippi's forests safe. 🌲💚