Wildfire Control

The Mississippi Forestry Commission is charged by law to suppress wildfires occurring day or night on approximately 19.79 million acres of timbered and uncultivated lands. Wildfire detection is provided by airplane surveillance coupled with the public's reporting of wildfires using toll-free numbers provided by the Mississippi Forestry Commission. County fire suppression crews are dispatched from a central dispatching center located at a district office.

MS Code Section 49-19-3 mandates the Mississippi Forestry Commission "Take such action and provide and maintain such organized means as may seem necessary and expedient to prevent, control, and extinguish forest fires, including the enforcement of any and all laws pertaining to the protection of forests and woodlands."

MS Code Section 49-19-25 authorizes the Mississippi Forestry Commission to enter any and all lands for the purpose of suppressing and controlling any fires declared a public nuisance by reason of its menace to life and property. This law also authorizes the Mississippi Forestry Commission to charge for all costs associated with suppressing the fire. Any open cistern or well, which has been abandoned or is not longer used for the purpose of cistern or well is hereby declared to be public nuisance by reason of its menace to life and property, and the Mississippi Forestry Commission is authorized to seal such cistern or well for a reasonable fee.

MS Code Section 97-17-13 establishes the penalty and fines for wood arson (willfully or negligently firing woods, marsh, meadows, etc). MS Code Section 95-5-25 establishes the penalty and fine for wantonly negligently or carelessly allowing any fire to get onto the lands of another, he shall be liable.

Burning Permits:

In conjunction with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, the Mississippi Forestry Commission issues burning permits based on the daily fire weather forecast. Permits are required for any fire set for a recognized agricultural and/or forestry purpose. Call 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.