Mississippi · Burn Bans

Before

No statewide burn ban. Mississippi bans are county-by-county: the County Board of Supervisors requests one and the Mississippi Forestry Commission approves it, and in MFC's words "All burn bans expire at midnight on the stated date of expiration." During a ban, anything with an open flame that produces an ember is prohibited — campfires, bonfires, fire pits, fire rings, burn barrels, debris burning and field burning; propane/gas grills, propane/gas heaters and charcoal grills remain allowed. Each ban lists either "No Exemptions" or specific exemptions (Mississippi Forestry Commission, certified burn managers, county fire services, commercial contractors using heavy construction equipment where the burn meets MDEQ open-burning rules, agricultural field burns, or other). The local sheriff's department enforces bans; knowingly and willfully violating one is a misdemeanor carrying a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $500 (Miss. Code §49-19-351). HOW TO CHECK YOUR COUNTY: MFC publishes active bans only as a map image at mfc.ms.gov/burning-info/burn-bans — counties shaded red are under a ban. That map carries no expiration dates, so MFC's own page will not tell you when a ban ends, and it is redrawn only periodically, so a ban adopted in the last few days may not appear on it yet. Never treat an unshaded county as confirmed safe — confirm with your County Board of Supervisors or sheriff's department before you burn. Snapshot: the map version published September 18, 2026 shades 13 counties red: Benton, Calhoun, Grenada, Humphreys, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lee, Marshall, Monroe, Sunflower, Tate and Tippah. Compared with the September 9, 2026 map, Calhoun, Humphreys, Monroe and Tippah were added, and Covington, Franklin and Rankin are no longer shaded.

Now

No statewide burn ban. Mississippi bans are county-by-county: the County Board of Supervisors requests one and the Mississippi Forestry Commission approves it, and in MFC's words "All burn bans expire at midnight on the stated date of expiration." During a ban, anything with an open flame that produces an ember is prohibited — campfires, bonfires, fire pits, fire rings, burn barrels, debris burning and field burning; propane/gas grills, propane/gas heaters and charcoal grills remain allowed. Each ban lists either "No Exemptions" or specific exemptions (Mississippi Forestry Commission, certified burn managers, county fire services, commercial contractors using heavy construction equipment where the burn meets MDEQ open-burning rules, agricultural field burns, or other). The local sheriff's department enforces bans; knowingly and willfully violating one is a misdemeanor carrying a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $500 (Miss. Code §49-19-351). HOW TO CHECK YOUR COUNTY: MFC publishes active bans only as a map image at mfc.ms.gov/burning-info/burn-bans — counties shaded red are under a ban. That map carries no expiration dates, so MFC's own page will not tell you when a ban ends, and it is redrawn only periodically, so a ban adopted in the last few days may not appear on it yet. Never treat an unshaded county as confirmed safe — confirm with your County Board of Supervisors or sheriff's department before you burn. Snapshot: the map version MFC published September 24, 2026 (read September 29, 2026) shades 16 counties red: Benton, Calhoun, Grenada, Humphreys, Itawamba, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lee, Lowndes, Marshall, Monroe, Noxubee, Sunflower, Tate and Tippah. Compared with the September 18, 2026 map, Itawamba, Lowndes (Columbus) and Noxubee were added, and no county came off.