Firewise Events
The MFC and its partners are sponsoring several Firewise events in your area.
Click here for more information.
Wildfire Prevention
Spring Wildfire Prevention Campaign 2012
With March generally being the windiest month of the year, Governor Phil Bryant has declared March Wildfire Prevention Month.March has historically been one of the state’s highest wildfire occurrence months, when thousands of acres of valuable timberland are damaged or lost and lives and property of many citizens are endangered, all due to the destructive force of wildfire.
Last year, 98.7 percent of all the fires in Mississippi were caused by humans or were preventable.
If you are doing a timber or agricultural burn, you are advised to get a permit from the Mississippi Forestry Commission prior to burning. Contact your local Central Dispatch Center to inquire about a burning permit. Be prepared to answer the following questions: Type of burning (agriculture or forestry); Number of acres; Forestry purpose (hazard reduction, control undesirable species, control disease, site prep, wildlife mgt or other); Landowner name, Person responsible for fire; Address, Telephone number; Location of property (40, section, township and range); Beginning and end date and time of fire.
- Governor Bryant's Proclamation that March Is Wildfire Prevention Month.
- Burning Leaves Poster (pdf)
- 50 Things You Can Do . . . to protect your home.
- Don't Burn on Windy Days - PSA (30 seconds, 1MB, mp3)
- Don't Burn on Windy Days - PSA (60 seconds, 2MB, mp3)
- Firewise Information - Be Firewise Mississippi
Wildfire Facts
- The MFC suppressed 4,142 wildfires in fiscal year 2011 with 518 occurring in the month of March.
- In fiscal year 2011, 54,535 acres burned in Mississippi with10,353 burning in the month of March.
- In fiscal year 2011, 98.7% of all wildfire were caused by human. Of these, roughly 82.54% were escapes from debris burning or arson. (Incendiary = 41.19%, debris burning = 41.36%)
- For fiscal years 2007 to 2011, 30.49% of all wildfires suppressed by the MFC occurred in the month of March.
- For fiscal years 2007 to 2011, 35.93% of all acres burned in Mississippi occurred in the month of March.
- For fiscal years 2007 to 2011, 98.99% of all wildfires were causes by human. Of these, roughly 84.69% were caused by debris burning or arson. (Incendiary = 43.97%, debris burning = 40.72%)
- For fiscal year 2002 to 2011, 99.34% of all wildfires were causes by human. Of these, roughly 86.45% percent were caused by debris burning or arson. (Incendiary = 46.99%, debris burning = 39.46%)
